The military airstrip had been abandoned for many years when somebody started using the disused hangar as a workshop for glass-blowing. And so it came about that the Ta’ Qali Crafts Village was born.

In a short time the Nissen huts there were taken over by other craftsmen and new huts built. Traditional arts like pottery, silver and gold filigree, and lace making were collected in one place soon to be joined by’other, possibly less traditional, handicrafts.

Among the light industries carried on at Ta’ Qali is the making of polished stone ornaments using Malta “marble” as raw material; the Malta Stone workshop carries a sign offering the visitor a “piece of Malta” to take back home. For those who want to take back a piece of Maltese history one can buy a replica of a knight’s suit of armour (they come in all sizes) or even a pottery copy of the Fat Lady.