Farmhouse (Razzett)
The Maltese farmhouse, known locally as razzett, is a traditional rural dwelling built around a central courtyard. These characterful properties were historically working farms, now often converted into spacious homes offering privacy and countryside living rare in densely populated Malta.
Key Characteristics
Rural Setting
Located in the Maltese countryside, surrounded by fields, rubble walls, and open landscape away from urban density.
Courtyard Living
Central courtyards are the heart of farmhouse design, providing light, ventilation, and outdoor living space.
Detached & Private
Standalone properties with surrounding land. No shared walls – true privacy rare in densely populated Malta.
Agricultural Heritage
Originally working farms with animal shelters, stores, and features now converted into characterful living spaces.
Traditional Features
Central Courtyard (Bitħa)
The heart of the farmhouse – an open-air space surrounded by the main house and outbuildings, traditionally used for animals and work.
Thick Rubble Walls
Massive stone walls, often 60-90cm thick, built from local limestone rubble. Excellent thermal insulation keeps interiors cool.
Flat Roof with Rainwater Collection
Traditional flat roofs designed to collect rainwater, channeled into underground cisterns – essential in water-scarce Malta.
Multiple Connected Structures
Farmhouses typically consist of several connected buildings: main dwelling, animal shelters, hay stores, and tool rooms.
Traditional Bread Oven (Forn)
Many farmhouses retain their wood-fired bread ovens, built into thick walls – now often restored as decorative features.
Animal Shelters & Stables
Ground floor spaces originally housing livestock, now commonly converted into additional living areas or garages.
Rubble Wall Boundaries
The distinctive dry-stone walls (ħitan tas-sejjieħ) that define property boundaries and divide agricultural fields.
Underground Cistern (Bir)
Water storage carved into the rock beneath the farmhouse, collecting rainwater from roofs – a vital feature in rural Malta.
Farmhouse vs House of Character
| Feature | Farmhouse (Razzett) | House of Character |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Rural countryside | Village core |
| Structure | Detached with land | Attached/terraced |
| Layout | Multiple buildings around courtyard | Vertical townhouse style |
| Original use | Working farm | Residential townhouse |
| Outdoor space | Courtyard + surrounding land | Internal courtyard, roof |
| Key feature | Agricultural heritage | Wooden balcony (gallarija) |
| Most common in | Gozo, rural Malta | Mdina, Birgu, village cores |
Where to Find Farmhouses
Gozo
The best concentration of farmhouses. Villages like Għarb, San Lawrenz, and Xagħra have many restored examples.
Mġarr (Malta)
Rural parish in northwest Malta with traditional farming character and authentic farmhouses.
Dingli
Near the famous cliffs, this rural area retains agricultural character with scattered farmhouses.
Żurrieq
Southern Malta village surrounded by countryside with farmhouses in the surrounding fields.
Siġġiewi
Large rural locality with farmland and traditional properties in the surrounding countryside.
Mellieħa
Northern Malta with rural areas containing farmhouses, especially toward the Marfa peninsula.
Understanding Maltese Farmhouses
The razzett (plural: razzetti) is Malta's traditional farmhouse, a property type that evolved over centuries to serve the needs of farming families. Unlike the urban Houses of Character found in village cores, farmhouses are distinctly rural properties, typically set amid agricultural land and defined by their practical, working-farm origins.
The Courtyard Layout
The defining feature of a Maltese farmhouse is the central courtyard (bitħa). Rather than a single building, a traditional farmhouse consists of multiple structures arranged around this open space: the main dwelling, animal shelters, hay stores, tool rooms, and often a well or cistern. This layout allowed farmers to manage livestock and store equipment while keeping the living quarters separate.
In converted farmhouses, these former agricultural spaces become additional living areas, guest quarters, or entertainment spaces. The courtyard itself transforms into an outdoor living and dining area, often with a pool added.
Construction & Materials
Farmhouses were built to last, with thick rubble walls often exceeding 60cm. These walls use local limestone, providing excellent thermal mass that keeps interiors cool in summer and warm in winter. The flat roofs were designed for rainwater collection, channeling precious water into underground cisterns (bir) – essential in Malta's dry climate.
Gozo: The Farmhouse Heartland
While farmhouses exist throughout Malta, Gozo is where you'll find the greatest concentration and best-preserved examples. The smaller island has always been more agricultural, retaining its rural character while Malta urbanized. Villages like Għarb, San Lawrenz, Xagħra, and Nadur are particularly known for their beautiful restored farmhouses.
Modern Conversions
Most farmhouses available today have been converted from working farms into residences. High-quality conversions preserve the historic character – original stonework, arches, wooden beams – while adding modern amenities: updated kitchens, bathrooms, air conditioning, and often swimming pools. The best conversions respect the traditional layout while creating comfortable contemporary living spaces.
Who Lives in Farmhouses?
Farmhouses appeal to those seeking space, privacy, and tranquility – qualities scarce in Malta's densely populated urban areas. They're popular as permanent residences for families wanting countryside living, as holiday homes for those escaping city life, and as vacation rentals capitalizing on their unique character. The trade-off is location: rural living means distance from amenities and reliance on cars.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a razzett?
Razzett is the Maltese word for farmhouse. It refers to traditional rural dwellings built around central courtyards, with multiple connected structures originally used for farming.
Where are most farmhouses located?
Gozo has the highest concentration of farmhouses. In Malta, look to rural areas like Mġarr, Dingli, Żurrieq, Siġġiewi, and Mellieħa – away from urban centres.
Farmhouse vs House of Character?
Farmhouses are rural, detached properties with agricultural heritage. Houses of Character are urban townhouses in village cores with features like wooden balconies. Different locations, different character.
Are farmhouses converted or original?
Most available farmhouses are converted. Original working farms have been transformed into residences with modern amenities while preserving historic character.
Why are there more in Gozo?
Gozo remained more agricultural and less densely populated than Malta, preserving more farmhouses. Many have been restored as homes or holiday properties.
Do farmhouses have pools?
Many converted farmhouses now include pools, typically in the courtyard or surrounding land. This is a modern addition – traditional farmhouses had cisterns for water storage.
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