Swieqi

Swieqi Is-Swieqi Saint Andrew's
Local council
View of Madliena, part of Swieqi
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Reduci ad Pristinum Publicum Statum
Coordinates: 35°55′15″N 14°28′48″E / 35.92083°N 14.48000°E / 35.92083; 14.48000Coordinates: 35°55′15″N 14°28′48″E / 35.92083°N 14.48000°E / 35.92083; 14.48000
Country	Malta
Region	Northern Region
District	Northern Harbour District
Borders	Għargħur, Naxxar, Pembroke, San Ġwann, St. Julian's
Government
• Mayor	Noel Muscat (PN)
Area
• Total	3.1 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Population (March 2014)
• Total	10,064
• Density	3,200/km2 (8,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Swieqi (m), Swiqija (f), Swiqin (pl)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	SWQ
Dialing code	356
ISO 3166 code	MT-57
Patron saint	Our Lady the Immaculate Conception, Mother of the Church
Day of festa	8 December
Website	Official website

Swieqi (Maltese: Is-Swieqi) is a town in the Northern Region of Malta. It is a residential area just 15 minutes by bus from Sliema and within walking distance of Malta's nightlife and entertainment centres, Paceville and St. Julian's. As the town developed, residential estates took over farmland. The town's name means "water channels", a reminder of the region's past.

It has a population of 10,064 as of March 2014.

The area's quiet environment and central location have made it popular with the upper-middle/high class population of the island. Vacant property in this area is scarce. Swieqi has seen its population rise over the years. It accommodated 8,099 people as of November 2005; a small number of service industries, IT facilities and English language schools have taken root.

The municipality of Swieqi assimilates Swieqi, Tal-Ibraġ, Madliena and part of St. Andrews. Madliena and St. Andrew's originally formed part of Ħal Għargħur. The Hamlet of Madliena owes its origin to the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalen, which was built in the 15th century. Tal-Ibraġ is a newly developed Hamlet which, over the past decade, has almost reached its maximum development potential. St. Andrew's is on the outskirts of Swieqi at the border with the locality of Pembroke. The town's coat of arms features a red and gold zig-zag motif indicating the valleys and fields of Tal-Ibraġ, blue waves indicating the watering courses (swieqi in Maltese) and a silver saltire. Madliena is indicated with the red letter M. Swieqi has its own local council, and in 2007 it had its own postal code instated (SWQ....). The town fell under the jurisdiction of St. Julian's, Birkirkara, San Ġwann, Naxxar and Ħal Għargħur at different times in its history.

The town's parish church is dedicated to Our Lady the Immaculate Conception Mother of the Church, celebrated on 8 December. However, the feast is not celebrated, save for a mass and small procession. Very few historical sites can be found in Swieqi. These are located in Madliena, consisting of the Victoria Lines, Madliena Fort, the Batteria San Giovanni and the Madliena Chapel. The church was built on land donated by the Aquilina family. It was situated in the limits of St. Helen's Parish, Birkirkara, in an area known as St. Andrew's. In those days only a few families lived in the area and the majority of these were farmers and manual labourers. These people worked hard for the church to be built and so that they could finally have their own chapel where they could participate in the Eucharistic Liturgy and gather together in prayer. Archbishop Michael Gonzi blessed the foundation stone of the church on 7 May 1964. The building was completed within two years, and Bishop Emmanuel Galea blessed the church and consecrated the marble altar on 13 February 1966. The second Vatican Council declared Our Lady as "Mother of the Church", and so the church was dedicated to Our Lady the Immaculate Conception Mother of the Church.