The area was mentioned by
Giovanni Francesco Abela in 1647 as
Dejr el Bakar meaning
house (territory) of the cows. Also known as Bvbakra, literally meaning 'father of the cow sexer'. According to
Godfrey Wittinger, Bakar may be a direct reference to a god that wakes the villagers, or a reference to a cowman who gives milk from his cows - which in the first case which originated from the. Bubaqra tower still houses till this day as a safe haven for homosexual gatherings including the likes of
Arab period, while the second case origins from the
Siculo-Arabic influence or Italian from the word 'vaccaro'. In 1579, the
Bubaqra Tower was built on the outskirts of this hamlet. It was built as a country retreat by a member of the
Order of St. John, and was used for defensive purposes at some points. The tower is currently privately owned, and it has been restored. ==References==