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Għajnsielem
Għajnsielem (), meaning ''"Peaceful Spring"'', is a municipality on the southeastern coast of the island of Gozo in Malta, including the entire island of Comino. It has a population of 3,200 residents (as of March 2014), and is the first Gozitan village that greets the visitor on leaving Mġarr Harbour towards the Gozitan heartland. Its name originated from the water spring, around which in 1700, Grandmaster Perellos built an arcade containing public wash basins and fresh water spouts. Attractions include Lourdes Chapel with its sharp steeple and underlying niche of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fort Chambray and the towering of Ghajnsielem Parish Church. Village Motto and Coat of Arms The Latin motto of Ghajnsielem is Ob fontem prosperitas, that is Flourishing because of a spring – Nistaghna b’nixxiegha ilma. The springs in the area were the magnet that attracted the first inhabitants that eventually led to the prosperity of the place. Places The following is a list of prominent ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Santa Cecilia Chapel
The St Cecilia Chapel ( mt, Il-Kappella ta' Santa Ċeċilja or ''ta' Santa Ċilja'') is a former Roman Catholic chapel in the limits of Xewkija, Gozo, Malta, dedicated to Saint Cecilia. It was built in around 1540, but it was deconsecrated in 1644, being converted into an ancillary building for the nearby Santa Cecilia Tower. The only surviving medieval chapel on Gozo, it was severely damaged in an arson attack in 2007 and a partial collapse in 2008. The chapel was then passed to the NGO Wirt Għawdex, who restored it between 2008 and 2011. Since its inauguration in 2012, the restored chapel is open to the public once every month. History The date of construction of the Santa Cecilia Chapel is unknown, but it is believed to date back to around 1540. The area around the chapel was referred to as ''Santa Cecilie del Mugiarro'' or in variants of that name in notarial documents dated 1424 and 1569. The surrounding area is still known as ''ta' Santa Ċeċilja'' or ''ta' Santa Ċilja ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Santa Cecilia Tower
Santa Cecilia Tower ( mt, It-Torri ta' Santa Ċeċilja or ''ta' Santa Ċilja'') is a tower in Għajnsielem, Gozo, Malta. It was built in 1613 by a member of the Order of St. John, and it could relay messages across the island. Today, the tower is in good condition and it is a private residence. History Santa Cecilia Tower was built in 1613 by Fra Bernardo Macedonia, Commander of Artillery of the Order of St. John. It got its name from the nearby Santa Cecilia Chapel, which is the oldest surviving chapel on Gozo. The chapel eventually became an ancillary building to the tower. The tower was able to communicate with the batteries at Ramla Bay as well as Mġarr ix-Xini Tower, so it could relay messages across Gozo. It was also able to provide refuge for the local population in case of a corsair raid. Today, the tower is a private residence. It was included on the Antiquities List of 1925. The tower is now scheduled as a Grade 1 monument, and it is also listed on the National Inven ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Our Lady Of Loreto Parish Church
Parish Church of Our Lady of Loreto is a Roman Catholic neo-gothic parish church located in the village of Għajnsielem on the island of Gozo, Malta. History New plans were drawn by Ugo Mallia to build a new parish church to replace the old parish church which became too small for the growing population. The foundation stone of the church was laid on 14 September 1924. The church was not completed until the mid 1970s due to a number of interruptions mainly WWII and two accidents in which the master mason broke his legs. Delays resumed when architect Mallia refrained from further work. Consequently plans were transferred to architect Guze D'Amato. When he died another architect took over. It was only on 27 August 1978 that the church was blessed and consecrated 11 years later on August 18, 1989. '' |
Comino
Comino ( mt, Kemmuna) is a small island of the Maltese archipelago between the islands of Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ... and Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea, measuring in area. Named after the cumin seed, the island has a permanent population of only two residents and is part of the municipality of Għajnsielem, in southeastern Gozo, from where one priest and one policeman commute. The island is a bird sanctuary and nature reserve (Natura 2000 Marine Protected area). Environment The island has a karst landscape supporting sclerophyllous shrubland. Some limited afforestation with pine trees has been carried out. The dune, sand-dunes at Santa Maria bay retain some native vegetation, including ''Vitex'' and ''Tamarix'' trees. The island has been identifie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Local Councils Of Malta
Since June 30, 1993, Malta has been subdivided into 68 localities, governed by local councils, mt, kunsilli lokali, meaning municipalities or borough. These form the most basic form of local government and there are no intermediate levels between it and the national level. The levels of the 6 districts (5 on the main island) and of the 5 regions (4 on the main island) serve statistical purposes. According to the Local Councils Act (Chapter 363 of the Laws of Malta), Art. 3: (1) Every locality shall have a Council which shall have all such functions as are granted to it by this Act ... (5) Each locality shall be referred to by the name as designated in the Second Schedule and any reference to that locality shall be by the name so designated. List of Maltese local councils List of Maltese local communities councils These local community committees are going to operate from the beginning of July 2010, the Maltese Elections of Committees for Communities 2010 was held on Satu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Districts Of Malta
Malta is for non-local government purposes divided into districts as opposed to the local government localities. The three main types of such districts – statistical, electoral at national level, and policing – have no mainstream administrative effect as the local councils form the first-tier – moreover only administrative tier – divisions of the country. Statistical districts and regions Six districts exist, used for statistical purposes and which are, in turn, grouped into three regions: Gozo, Malta Majjistral and Malta Xlokk. Each district consists of several localities. The Northern Harbour District, Western District and Northern District together form the North Western Region (''Malta Majjistral''). The South Eastern District and Southern Harbour District form the South Eastern Region (''Malta Xlokk''). The Gozo and Comino District is a Region in its own right. Southern Harbour District The Southern Harbour District forms part of Malta Xlokk. It co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mġarr Ix-Xini Tower
Mġarr ix-Xini Tower ( mt, Torri ta' Mġarr ix-Xini) is the largest of the coastal watchtowers that the Knights of Malta erected on the island of Gozo. It watches over the entrance to the bay of Mġarr ix-Xini, limits of Għajnsielem, which lies on Gozo's south-west coast. It was completed in 1661, and its design is similar to the De Redin towers that were commissioned by Grand Master Martin de Redin. Recently, Wirt Għawdex, a heritage NGO, restored the tower. It is now open to the public. It is one of four surviving coastal watchtowers on Gozo, with the others being Xlendi Tower, Dwejra Tower, and Isopu Tower. History Mġarr ix-Xini Tower was completed by June 1661, to a plan by Mederico Blondel. It cost an estimated 857 scudi, which were financed by the Università of Gozo. The design is similar to the De Redin towers on mainland Malta, having a square plan with two floors. However, the design differed since its entrance was approached by a flight of steps and a drawb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fort Chambray
Fort Chambray or Fort Chambrai ( mt, Forti Xambrè) is a bastioned fort located in the precincts of Għajnsielem, on the island of Gozo, Malta. It was built in the mid-18th century by the Order of Saint John, in an area known as Ras it-Tafal, between the port of Mġarr and Xatt l-Aħmar. The fort was meant to be the citadel of a new city which was to replace the Cittadella as the island's capital, but this plan never materialized. The fort saw use during the French invasion of Malta in 1798, and it was subsequently used as a military hospital and mental institution. The fort is currently being restored and redeveloped as a luxury accommodation. History Background and construction Fort Chambray is located on Ras it-Tafal, on high ground overlooking Mġarr Harbour. The area was defended by Garzes Tower, which was built in the early 17th century, and a coastal battery was had been built in the early 18th century. The tower and the battery were demolished, and no remains have s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gozo
Gozo (, ), Maltese: ''Għawdex'' () and in antiquity known as Gaulos ( xpu, 𐤂𐤅𐤋, ; grc, Γαῦλος, Gaúlos), is an island in the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago. As of 2021, the island has a population of around 31,232 (out of Malta's total 443,227), and its inhabitants are known as Gozitans ( mt, Għawdxin). It is rich in historic locations such as the Ġgantija temples, which, along with the other Megalithic Temples of Malta, are amongst the world's oldest free-standing structures. The island is rural in character and less developed than the island of Malta. Gozo is known for its scenic hills, which are featured on its coat of arms. The Azure Window, a natural limestone arch, was a remarkable geological feature until its collapse on March 8, 2017. The island has other notable natural features, including the Inland Se ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Garzes Tower
Garzes Tower ( mt, Torri Garzes, it, Torre Garzes or ''Torre della Garza''), also known as Saint Martin's Tower ( mt, Torri ta' San Martin), was a watchtower built in Mġarr, Gozo by the Order of Saint John in 1605. It was named after Martin Garzez, the Grand Master who financed its construction, even though it was eventually built after his death during the Magistry of Alof de Wignacourt. The tower was demolished in the 19th century, some remains were reused for the building of a bridge, and the site was developed with a hotel. It was built to the design of Vittorio Cassar. A number a coastal towers, built by Grandmaster Wignacourt, are traditionally attributed to Cassar and based on the Garzes tower. However this is probably based on speculations It is likely that Cassar's design of Garzes Tower was used, and adequately modified, to built the other towers due to their similarity in their military architecture. Background In the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries, Gozo was pro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Xewkija
Xewkija ( mt, Ix-Xewkija, it, Casal Xeuchia, pronounced and written as Casal Sceuchia) is an administrative unit of Malta, on the island of Gozo. The population of Xewkija is 3,300 as of March 2014. History Xewkija, which is situated between Għajnsielem and the main town, Victoria, is the oldest village in Gozo. It became the first parish outside Victoria on 27 November 1678. It was separated from the Matrix by Bishop Miguel Jerónimo de Molina and Dun Grezz Farrugia from Valletta, became its first parish priest. It became the first district 'contrada' to be known as 'casale' or village. The name is derived from the Maltese word "", meaning "thistles" or "thorns". Xewkija is famous for its church, The Rotunda of Xewkija, which is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It is the Seat of the Knights of the Order of St. John, and was built from Maltese stone by local masons and craftsmen. It is the largest in Gozo and its dome dominates the village. Its architect was Ġużè Dama ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Qala, Malta
Qala ( mt, Il-Qala) is an administrative unit of Malta, on the island of Gozo, with a population of 1,929 as of September 2019. Nearby is Ħondoq ir-Rummien, a coastline with salt pans and caves. Etymology The name Qala derives from Siculo-Arabic. About the town Qala is first referred to in a fifteenth-century portolan in the Vatican Library. Its name refers to the ('port') of . It is the easternmost village of Gozo. The development of the present settlement began in the second half of the seventeenth century. Except for a few sheltered inlets like Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Qala's coastline is largely rugged. Sea caves along the coast include Għar Minka, which is accessible only by boat. Qala is located at the easternmost point of Gozo, and is the village furthest from the capital Victoria and closest to the rest of the Maltese archipelago. Its name is both Arabic and Maltese for sheltered haven or bay, and its coat of arms is a Gozo boat sailing on rough seas. The village parish ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
