Etymology
The name Qala derives from Siculo-Arabic.About the town
Qala is first referred to in a fifteenth-century portolan in thePlaces of interest
St. Joseph Parish Church
The village parish church is dedicated to St Joseph. It was built by the same architect-priest who built the church ofImmaculate Conception Chapel
This Chapel, which is situated in Qala on the way to , is one of the earliest Marian shrines on the island and dates back to 1575. It is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The feast is celebrated on 8 December and the statue was sculptured in Marseilles by Gallard et Fils in 1887. In the early 1650s, the chapel was enlarged and on 28 April 1688, it began to serve the spiritual needs of the newly established parish in eastern part of Gozo which included Qala, Nadur, Għajnsielem, Mġarr and Comino until the new parish church was constructed according to the wishes of Bishop Davide Cocco Palmeri. It served as a parish church of Qala from February 1872 to February 1889. It was consecrated on 21 May 1950. Between 1982 and 1988 the inside was gilded and refurbished. The main attraction is the altarpiece, attributed to Federico Barocci di Urbino. It shows God extending his special protection to the Immaculate Conception. The Virgin Mary was crowned on 1 August 1954.St. Anthony's Battery
St. Anthony's Battery, also known as (Qala Point) Battery, was built between 1731 and 1732. Its design is attributed to Charles François de Mondion. It was intended to guard the mouth of the channel between Gozo and Comino. The work was originally designed with a semi-circular gun platform and two blockhouses at the rear; however, it was eventually built with a semi-hexagonal front. Consequently, the landward defenses incorporated a free-standing red-an trace with thick walls and numerous musketry loopholes, which were shielded by two flanking traverses. The land front itself was protected by a shallow ditch. A solid blockhouse with battered walls occupied the center of the enclosure. In 1770, St. Anthony's Battery had an armament of three 8-pounder guns with 427 rounds of roundshot and 75 rounds of grapeshot; and eight 6-pounder guns with 127 rounds of roundshot and 45 rounds of grapeshot. Although most of the landward part of St. Anthony's Battery was in a precarious state of neglect with part of the wall and the entire blockhouse in complete ruins, (a non-profit making organisation) are at present carrying out renovation and reconstruction works on the Block house and the entrance.bay can be accessed from the village of Qala and lies opposite to the isle of Comino. The small sandy beach and its crystalline water makes Ħondoq Bay very popular amongst the local population especially in summer. Apart from an ideal swimming zone, the bay is also renowned for diving, especially for beginners. During summer evenings a number of local families stay late in Ħondoq to relax by their smoking
Voluntary Groups in Qala
The Qala Fireworks Group
The Qala Fireworks Group, formed back in 1956, is made up of volunteers who put on a fireworks show.Għaqda Briju San Ġużepp
Għaqda Briju San Ġużepp, founded in July 2007, organises year-round youth activities and works on the Saint Joseph Feast.Qala St. Joseph F.C.
Qala St. Joseph F.C is a football club from the village of Qala in Gozo, Malta. The club was founded in 1968 and is named after the village patron Saint Joseph. They play in the Gozo Football League.Menhir Qala Folk Group
The Menhir Qala Folk Group has promoted local culture and folklore since 2003 and has participated in local, national and international events and activities including at in Slovenia, Italy, Serbia, the Czech Republic and Greece, singing and dancing in traditional costumes.Ite Ad Joseph
The Ite ad Joseph Band is the official band of the village of Qala and one of eleven bands on the island of Gozo. It has about 35 regular band members and a similar number of music students playing in it. The band has issued two CDs, in 2001 and in 2004, and has played in other Maltese villages as well as in Italy, Greece, and Sweden.Events
St. Joseph Feast (Qala's patron's feast)
The feast of Qala on the first Sunday of August is dedicated to the village's patron saint, Saint Joseph, for whom the parish church is named. It was designed by Dun Gużepp Diacono and built between 1882 and 1889. The foundation stone was laid on 19 March 1882 and the church was consecrated on 8 May 1904. The parish became Archipresbyteral in 1965. Qala celebrated its first feast of St. Joseph on 27 April 1890. The village brass band, called Ite ad Joseph, plays marches and holds concerts during the festival week.Gozo International Celebration
An international celebration which is held three times per year; on Christmas, Easter Sunday and on the Feast.International Folk Festival
This is a four day festival of traditional local and foreign folk music, song and dance. Performances are given by both local and foreign folk groups and by instrumental and brass bands.Qala main roads
* (Belveder Road) * (Immaculate Conception Road) * (Qala Road) * (28 April 1688 Street) * * (Mgarr Road) * (St Joseph Road)Other streets at Qala
* (Rosemary Lane) * (Open Fields Lane) * (Grunju Lane) * (Tal-Hawli Lane) * (Church Lane) * (Billion Valley Lane) * (Bishop Michael Buttigieg Square) * (Republic Square) * (St. Joseph Square) * (San Kerrew Square) * (Stick Alley) * (Mouth Alley) * (Andar ix-Xaghari Street) * (Federico Barocci Street) * (Hondoq ir-Rummien Road) * (Butcher Street) * (Bakery Street) * (St. Anthony Fort Street) * (Fugass Street) * (Kalati Punici Street) * (Capers Street) * (Rosemary Street) * (Windmill Street) * (Pope Pius IX Street) * (Pope Pius XII Street) * (Wardija Road) * (Daleland Street) * (Nadur Road) * (Victory Street) * (Hill Street) * (Temple Street) * (Independence Street) * (Bishop Michael Buttigieg Street) * (Lord Strickland Street) * (Bro. Joseph Portelli Street) * (St. Frances Street) * (St. Mary of Qala Street) * (Cini Road) * (Gafan Road) * (Ta' Semper Road) * (Tac-Cawl Road) * (Pig Sty Street) * (Qasam Road) * (Cross Street) * (Sergeant Street) * (Xulliel Road) * (Zurrieq People Street) * (Billion Valley Road) * (Simar Valley Road)Streets at Ta' Kassja Area
* (Anton Buttigieg Street) * (John Vella Street) * (Barn Owl Street) * (Blessed Adeodata Pisani Street) * (Rods Street) * (Nigret Road) * (30 October 1948 Street) * (Bishop Baldassare Cagliares Street) * (Saviour Attard Street) * (Ta' Kassja Road)Twin towns – sister cities
Qala is twinned with: * Salina, Italy *References
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