Għarb ( mt, L-Għarb) is an
administrative unit of
Malta, located at the westernmost point of the island of
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 t ...
, with a population of 1,539 people (as of March 2014).
History
Għarb started as a small hamlet which developed around the middle ages. The word ''Għarb'' is the Arabic word for ''West'', so it should be no surprise that the village is the most westerly place on Gozo. One can see its ancient roots in the centre of the village where some houses have fine examples of decorated stone balconies. Għarb was created as a parish in 1679, a move which gave impetus for the building of a new,
baroque parish church. Built between 1699 and 1729, it has an elegant façade which has been compared with
Francesco Borromini
Francesco Borromini (, ), byname of Francesco Castelli (; 25 September 1599 – 2 August 1667), was an Italian architect born in the modern Swiss canton of Ticino 's
Church of Saint Agnes in
Piazza Navona,
Rome. The village square, so quintessentially
Gozitan, has become the view on many a postcard. On the square is a folklore museum housing all sorts of memorabilia retelling the Islands'
rural history. Għarb lies in some of Gozo's most scenic countryside, particularly at Dbieġi, the highest hill on the Island. Also at Dbieġi is a centre for Gozitan crafts. Within the limits of Għarb is the Chapel of San Dimitri. According to legend, the first chapel was built on the cliff side by a woman whose son was freed from captivity by St. Demetrius. Also nearby is the
Basilica ta' Pinu
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu ( mt, Santwarju Bażilika tal-Madonna ta' Pinu) is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and national shrine located some from the village of Għarb on the island of Gozo, the sist ...
, Malta's pre-eminent shrine to the Virgin Mary. It was on this spot in 1883, that a local woman heard the voice of the Virgin. The
parish church is dedicated to the visitation of
Saint Mary
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...
to her cousin
Saint Elizabeth. The late
Karmni Grima
Karmni Grima (2 February 1838 – 25 May 1922) was a Maltese peasant whose mystical religious experience led to the constructions and services as an apostle of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu.
Biography
Karmni Grima was born in the village of Għarb in G ...
and
Frenċ tal-Għarb
Francis Xavier Mercieca ( mt, Franġisku Saverju Mercieca, 3 December 1892 – 19 May 1967), more commonly known as Frenċ tal-Għarb, was a farmer and healer from the village of Għarb in Gozo, Malta. He was a service apostle of Our Lady of Ta' ...
are two of its most renowned villagers.
Zones in Għarb
*Birbuba
*Ħodba
*Il-Wileġ
*San Katald
*Ta' Lamuta
*Ta' Pinu
*Ta' Santu Pietru
*Il-Fgura
*Taż-Żejt
*il-wilga
*Wied tal-Knisja
*Wied il-Mielaħ
*Ta' Ħries
*Fuq il-blata
*Tat-trux
*Il-misrah
Twin towns – sister cities
Għarb is
twinned with:
*
Castrolibero, Italy
*
Massafra, Italy
*
Pace del Mela
Pace del Mela ( Sicilian: ''Paci'') is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Messina in the Italian region Sicily, located about east of Palermo and about west of Messina.
Pace del Mela borders the following municipalities: Condrò, ...
, Italy
*
Tortona
Tortona (; pms, Torton-a , ; lat, Dhertona) is a ''comune'' of Piemonte, in the Province of Alessandria, Italy. Tortona is sited on the right bank of the Scrivia between the plain of Marengo and the foothills of the Ligurian Apennines.
History ...
, Italy
*
Torrent, Spain
*
Cépet
Cépet (; oc, Cepet) is a Communes of France, commune in the Haute-Garonne Departments of France, department in southwestern France.
Population
See also
*Communes of the Haute-Garonne department
References
Communes of Haute-Garonn ...
, France
References
External links
Għarb Local Council
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gharb
Towns in Malta
Local councils of Malta
Gozo