The Gozitan seaside village of Xlendi has always been a popular spot among locals and visitors looking to hit the beach or grab a bite to eat for years. But while it’s always been well-loved and frequented, the popular bay and surrounding areas have suffered as a result of over-use and over-development as time has gone by. 

Nowadays, towering buildings line the sides of the valley leading down to the bay, but this was not always the case, as this charming footage reveals.

Captured by local Michael Bajada in the summer of 1990, this selection of clips filmed on video tapes and shared on social media reveals a very different, yet instantly recognisable, Xlendi.

Starting from the drive down to the bay, the clips showcase the sloping edges of the valley, which is already home to several apartment blocks and a chapel, which remains relatively unchanged today.

Further down the road, another clip reveals how popular the bay was among visitors even 30 years ago, with many walking along the bay in their summer best or driving cars which today would be classified as vintage.

Over in the water, several traditional luzzu boats are seen heading out for a day at sea, while swimmers splash around among them, and sun worshippers catch some rays on the jetty – all the elements of a Maltese summer, in a nutshell!

Another clip shows a morsel of food in the sea being overrun by hungry fish, as a group of youngsters dive into the blue waters from the shore – a scene that could have been filmed just yesterday.

While fashions may change and the landscape may morph, the elements of a quintessential Maltese summer remain unchanged, and this charming footage proves to be a fascinating insight into August on the islands, exactly 30 years ago.