Marsaxlokk - Filip Šubrt Photo


Ansel Adams .



Marsaxlokk village is located in the south-eastern part of Malta which is famous for its big Sunday fish market and its many decorative “eyed” painted boats called Luzzu. The village has around 3200 inhabitants and in the past, most of the inhabitants worked as fishermen. The name Marsaxlokk comes from the word “marsa” which means port and the word “xlokk” which means south in Maltese.

Marsaxlokk Luzzu

Luzzu (pronounced like lutsu in Maltese) is a traditional fishing boat from the Maltese islands. They are usually painted in bright colours, while the bow has a pair of eyes. They are referred to as the Eye of Horus or of Osiris. They are said to protect the fishermen while at sea.
Luzzus are sturdy boats with a double-ended hull. The design of the Luzzu, like that of another Maltese boat, the dgħajsa, is believed to date back to Phoenician times. The design has survived because it tends to be sturdy and stable even in bad weather. Originally, the luzzu was equipped with sails although nowadays almost all are motorised, with onboard diesel engines being the most common.