Balzan

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For the international Balzan prize and its donator, Eugenio Balzan, see Balzan Prize

Three Villages of Malta
Balzan - Attard - Lija

Balzan (or Ħal Balzan) is the name of a small village found towards the centre of the Maltese Islands in the Mediterranean sea. It is one of the so called three villages, together with Attard and Lija. The village originally consisted of a group of small dwellings and farms, but eventually grew, becoming a parish in the 17th century. Presently the village has just 3,859 inhabitants (Nov 2005), the younger generation living on the outskirts of the village. Local council elections take place every three years. The name Balzan is thought to be Arabic in origin, possibly coming from the olive groves and different species of orange trees (Bitter oranges, blood red oranges etc..) which grew in the area. The parish church, built in the mid-17th century, is dedicated to the Annunciation of Our Lady . The parish also celebrates the feast of St. Valentine, which gave the name to the village radio station, Radio Valentine, which closed down officilally in 2006.

edit	Local Councils of Malta
Malta Island
Attard \| Balzan \| Birgu (Vittoriosa) \| Birkirkara \| Birżebbuġa \| Bormla (Cospicua) \| Dingli \| Fgura \| Floriana \| Gudja \| Gżira \| Għargħur \| Għaxaq \| Ħamrun \| Iklin \| Isla (Senglea) \| Kalkara \| Kirkop \| Lija \| Luqa \| Marsa \| Marsaskala \| Marsaxlokk \| Mdina \| Mellieħa \| Mġarr \| Mosta \| Mqabba \| Msida \| Mtarfa \| Naxxar \| Paola \| Pembroke \| Pietà \| Qormi \| Qrendi \| Rabat \| Safi \| San Ġiljan (St. Julian's) \| Santa Luċija \| San Pawl il-Baħar (St. Paul's Bay) \| San Ġwann \| Santa Venera \| Siġġiewi \| Sliema \| Swieqi \| Ta' Xbiex \| Tarxien \| Valletta \| Xgħajra \| Żabbar \| Żebbuġ \| Żejtun \| Żurrieq
Gozo Island
Fontana \| Għajnsielem \| Għarb \| Għasri \| Kerċem \| Munxar \| Nadur \| Qala \| Rabat (Victoria) \| San Lawrenz \| Sannat \| Xagħra \| Xewkija \| Żebbuġ