Naxxar is an old town in the centre of Malta, less visited than Valletta or Mdina but with two sights worth a detour. The Palazzo Parisio, built in 1898 by Marquis Giuseppe Scicluna and decorated by Italian artists, is one of Malta's most lavish private palaces. Its formal gardens and frescoed ceilings are open to visitors, and the cafe in the courtyard is a pleasant stop.
The parish church, dedicated to the Birth of Our Lady and designed by the architect Tommaso Dingli in the early 17th century, has paintings attributed to the school of Mattia Preti and works by Stefano Erardi and Francesco Zahra. The bronze main door dates from 1913. The festa on 8 September, celebrating the Victory (Vitorja), is one of Malta's liveliest parish festivals.
Naxxar also hosts the Malta Trade Fair grounds in the palazzo's former gardens, making it a useful reference point for events.