Ta'Qali
Encyclopedia
Ta' Qali is a village in Malta
, a wide open space in the middle of Malta containing the national stadium
, Ta' Qali National Park and a national vegetable market which is locally known as the Pitkalija.
Shortly before World War II
, the area was used to build a military aerodrome and a station for the Royal Air Force
(RAF), called RAF "Ta Kali". RAF Ta Kali was operational throughout the war and continued to be used as an RAF airfield until the mid 1950s. Latterly, U.K.-based squadrons visited Ta Kali as part of their annual proficiency trainng.
Since the departure of the RAF, the location has been transformed into a recreational area. The area is small in scale but considered by some in Malta as an ideal place to go for a picnic and spend weekend afternoons. The National Park
also includes an amphitheatre. A number of international concerts were staged at the park, including artists as diverse as Status Quo, Deep Purple
, Fish
, Iron Maiden
, Demis Roussos
, Alannah Myles
, Bonnie Tyler
and many others. International artists such as Riccardo Fogli
have also planted their own trees in the Park.
The newly built U.S. Embassy stands across from the Ta'Qali National Park. During the first week of July, 2011 the embassy will relocate to Ta'Qali from the current location in Floriana where it has stood for nearly fifty years.
Ta' Qali still fulfils part of its former role as an airfield but the only aircraft that take off from the greatly diminished landing strip are scale models, whose owners make part of a club located in Ta' Qali. Today, many of the military huts and buildings have been converted into workshops where Maltese craftsmen produce their handiwork, and Ta' Qali Crafts Village has become an important tourist attraction. There is also a the Malta Aviation museum where one can find different types of aircraft related to Maltese aviation history. Before being converted to a recreational park the airstrip was used in the first car races ever held by the Maltese, nowadays the Sport Muturi has its off-road tracks where the annual motorsport championship is held.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, a wide open space in the middle of Malta containing the national stadium
Ta'Qali Stadium
Ta' Qali National Stadium is the national stadium of Malta, and is the home stadium of the Malta national football team. It stages most Maltese Premier League and cup matches, as well as international matches...
, Ta' Qali National Park and a national vegetable market which is locally known as the Pitkalija.
Shortly before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the area was used to build a military aerodrome and a station for the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF), called RAF "Ta Kali". RAF Ta Kali was operational throughout the war and continued to be used as an RAF airfield until the mid 1950s. Latterly, U.K.-based squadrons visited Ta Kali as part of their annual proficiency trainng.
Since the departure of the RAF, the location has been transformed into a recreational area. The area is small in scale but considered by some in Malta as an ideal place to go for a picnic and spend weekend afternoons. The National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
also includes an amphitheatre. A number of international concerts were staged at the park, including artists as diverse as Status Quo, Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, Fish
Fish (singer)
Derek William Dick, better known as Fish, is a Scottish progressive rock singer, lyricist and occasional actor, best known as the former lead singer of Marillion.-Biography:...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Demis Roussos
Demis Roussos
Artemios Ventouris Roussos is a Greek singer and performer, best known for being the main musical partner of movie soundtrack composer Vangelis and a string of international hit records as a solo performer in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Alannah Myles
Alannah Myles
Alannah Myles is a Canadian singer-songwriter, the daughter of Canadian broadcast pioneer William Douglas Byles. In 1989, she released her eponymous debut album...
, Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
and many others. International artists such as Riccardo Fogli
Riccardo Fogli
Riccardo Fogli is an Italian singer.-Early career:Riccardo Fogli was born on 21 October 1947 in Pontedera. He was fond of music since his childhood. In the 1960s, he became a fan of The Beatles, which also influenced his decision to start his career as a singer.In 1964, at the age of 17, Fogli...
have also planted their own trees in the Park.
The newly built U.S. Embassy stands across from the Ta'Qali National Park. During the first week of July, 2011 the embassy will relocate to Ta'Qali from the current location in Floriana where it has stood for nearly fifty years.
Ta' Qali still fulfils part of its former role as an airfield but the only aircraft that take off from the greatly diminished landing strip are scale models, whose owners make part of a club located in Ta' Qali. Today, many of the military huts and buildings have been converted into workshops where Maltese craftsmen produce their handiwork, and Ta' Qali Crafts Village has become an important tourist attraction. There is also a the Malta Aviation museum where one can find different types of aircraft related to Maltese aviation history. Before being converted to a recreational park the airstrip was used in the first car races ever held by the Maltese, nowadays the Sport Muturi has its off-road tracks where the annual motorsport championship is held.
Ta' Qali Main Roads
- Triq il-Mosta (Mosta Road)
- Triq il-Pitkali (Pitkali Road)
- Triq ir-Rabat u l-Belt Valletta (Rabat-Valletta Road)
- Triq l-Imtarfa u r-Rabat (Mtarfa-Rabat Road)
- Vjal l-Istadjum Nazzjonali (National Stadium Avenue)