Ħondoq ir-Rummien : a sacred landscape in the Maltese Archipelago

Abstract

Scheduling sacred landscapes is unheard of in the Maltese Archipelago, even though the islands boast a large concentration of sacred places and sites, still frequented nowadays by locals and foreigners, whether private or public officials such as pontiffs. Albeit visited much less than other sites, Ħondoq ir-Rummien is of sacred value due to both the memory of the site and its intrinsic purpose arising from historical documents covering a significant extent of the surrounding environs. This article puts forward the case for recognising Ħondoq ir-Rummien as a sacred landscape and recommends its scheduling by the national development planning regulator.