About
Msida’s name may come from an Arabic word meaning “fisherman’s dwelling,” or from Omm Sidna (“The Mother of Our Lord”), possibly referring to a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Originally a fishing village, Msida became a parish in 1867, centered around Valley Road and the nearby Villambrosa district. Its territory later shrank with the creation of new parishes: Ħamrun (1881), Santa Venera (1918), Pietà (1968), and Ta’ Xbiex (1969). The population, once 11,500, fell to about 6,000 but has since risen to over 7,600 due to development in Swatar, which also houses St. Martin’s College.
Today, Msida is a vibrant university town, its growth driven by students from the University of Malta, Skylark School of English, and new service industries.