Gudja

Gudja
Local council
Il-Gudja
Parish Church of the Assumption
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  Pluribus Parens
Coordinates: 35°50′54″N 14°30′9″E / 35.84833°N 14.50250°E / 35.84833; 14.50250
Country	Malta
Region	Southern Region
District	South Eastern District
Borders	Għaxaq, Luqa, Santa Luċija
Government
• Mayor	Romeo Baldacchino (PL)
Area
• Total	2.3 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Population  (Jan 2019)
• Total	3,184
• Density	1,400/km2 (3,600/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Gudjan (m), Gudjana (f), Gudjani (pl)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	GDJ
Dialing code	356
ISO 3166 code	MT-11
Patron saint	Assumption of Mary
Day of feast	15 August
Secondary saints	Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Consolation
Day of feast	October

Gudja is a village in the Southern Region of Malta, with a population of 3,148 as of March 2017.^[1] The village is located on high grounds, south of the capital Valletta. It is administered by the Gudja Local Council. A number of schools, clubs, public gardens and recreation places are found around the village.

The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, evident from remains still in situ. Scarce Punic remains were found in an area known as Xlejli, within the village. Several remains of the Roman period are scattered in the whereabouts, particularly the Ħal Resqun Catacombs. The area was inhabited during the Arab and subsequent medieval periods, and the settling found today dates to the Order of St. John. The centre of the village further developed during the British period, after which a number of modern neighbourhoods were built.

The village has a concentration of churches, some dating to the medieval period, and other secular historic buildings such as Palazzo Dorell. Prominent buildings are now scheduled as Grade 1 or 2. Some buildings and a number of niches and statues are listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.