Għasri ( mt, L-Għasri) is an
administrative unit
Administrative division, administrative unit,Article 3(1). country subdivision, administrative region, subnational entity, constituent state, as well as many similar terms, are generic names for geographical areas into which a particular, ind ...
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 ...
, in the western part 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 525 people (as of March 2014). By population, it is the smallest village in Gozo after
San Lawrenz, and the third-smallest in the Maltese Islands, after
Bidnija
Bidnija is a rural hamlet between Mosta, St. Paul's Bay and Mġarr. It is located in the northern region of Malta and is home to roughly 308 people per 2008, the second least populated habitable zone on the Maltese islands after Mdina (306 peopl ...
and
Mdina
Mdina ( mt, L-Imdina ; phn, 𐤌𐤋𐤈, Maleṭ; grc, Μελίττη, Melite (ancient city), Melíttē; ar, مدينة, Madīnah; ), also known by its Italian-language titles ("Old City") and ("Notable City"), is a fortifications of Mdin ...
. Għasri, however, has a relatively large area.
The village lies between the hills of
Żebbuġ
Żebbuġ ( mt, Ħaż-Żebbuġ) , also known by its title Città Rohan, is a city in the Northern Region of Malta. It is one of the oldest towns in the country, and its population is 11,074 as of June 2021.
History and origins
The parish Churc ...
and
Għammar. The name has
Arabic
Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
origins and refers to the period of the day in between the afternoon and the evening. Għasri is reached by forking right on the
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
-
Għarb
Għarb ( mt, L-Għarb) is an administrative unit of Malta, located at the westernmost point of the island of Gozo, with a population of 1,539 people (as of March 2014).
History
Għarb started as a small hamlet which developed around the middle ...
road just after the Aqueduct.
A lighthouse on Ġurdan hill, better known as the
Giordan Lighthouse
__NOTOC__
The Giordan, Ġordan or Ta' Ġurdan Lighthouse is an active lighthouse on the Maltese island of Gozo. It is located on a hill above the village of Għasri on the northern coast of the island.
History
An earlier lighthouse was known to ...
dominates Għasri. The famous lighthouse rises 180 metres above sea level and was inaugurated in 1853. Its beam can be seen up to 50 kilometres away. Upon the hill around the lighthouse there are 360-degree views of Gozo that lure many hikers, who ascend the steep path to the hilltop.
From the Village Square, a road leads to the fabulous valley of
Wied il-Għasri. On the way, there are a number of typical farmhouses, most of them available for short or long lets, as well as an old
chapel
A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common ty ...
dedicated to the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Wied il-Għasri area is a marvelous country walk or cycling site especially in Winter and Spring. The valley ends in the sea, between high cliffs with a secluded inlet where visitors can swim, snorkel and dive -- the sea around Wied il-Għasri is popular among divers. In Għasri valley one can find saltpans.
The
village church, designed by a local priest,
Dun Ġużepp Diacono, was built early in the twentieth century. Its foundation stone was laid on 6 September 1903, and it was dedicated to the
Corpus Christi, otherwise known as Christ the Saviour in the Eucharist on 9 January 1916. The village was established a parish by Bishop
Giovanni Maria Camilleri
Giovanni Maria Camilleri (15 March 1843 – 7 November 1924) was a Maltese prelate who became the fourth bishop of Gozo.
Life
Camilleri was born in Valletta, Malta on March 15, 1843. At the age of 24 he was ordained priest of the Order of St ...
on 16 December 1921.
Għasri Main Roads
*Pjazza Salvatur (Corpus Christi Square)
*Triq il-Fanal (Lighthouse Street)
*Triq il-Wilġa (Daleland Street)
*Triq iż-Żebbuġ (Zebbug Road)
*Triq Salvu Gambin (S. Gambin Street)
*Triq Dun Karm Caruana (Fr.Carmelo Caruana Street)
Other Streets at Għasri
*Daħla Ta' Għammar (Għammar Street)
*Sqaq il-Knisja (Church Alley)
*Sqaq Wied tal-Qattus (Cat's Valley Alley)
*Trejqet Ġesù Nazzarenu (Jesus of Nazareth Path)
*Trejqet il-Farfett tal-Korpus (Corpus Butterfly Path)
*Triq id-Dehra (Apparition Street)
*Triq il-Ġonna (Gardens Street)
*Triq il-Knisja (Church Street)
*Triq il-Maxrabija (Maxrabija Street)
*Triq it-Tamar (Dates Street)
*Triq l-Għarb (Għarb Road)
*Triq Ta' Għammar (Għammar Road)
*Triq Ta' Pinu (Ta' Pinu Road)
*Triq Tal-Fenek (Tal-Fenek Road)
*Triq Tal-Kanun (Tal-Kanun Road)
*Triq Wied l-Għasri (Għasri Valley Road)
*Triq Wied Sara (Sahra Valley Road)
*Wesgħa Dun Ġużepp Buttigieg (Fr. Joseph Buttigieg Place)
Twin towns – sister cities
Għasri is
twinned with:
*
Ottenschlag, Austria
*
Le Cabanial
Le Cabanial () is a commune of the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.
Population
The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Cabanialais''.
See also
*Communes of the Haute-Garonne department
The following is a list of the ...
, France
References
External links
Għasri Local Council WebsitePhoto of Wied L-GhasriPhoto of Wied il-Għasri taken from the staircase cut into the rock
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghasri
Towns in Malta
Local councils of Malta
Gozo