Information
about the Village of Ghajnsielem.
Ghajnsielem’s
name originated from a water spring, situated in Wied
Simirat, which ends in the very centre of the village,
Pjazza tad-Dehra. It is the first Gozitan village that
you will find as soon as you arrive at the Mgarr Harbour
with the ferry boat. Some spectacular historical buildings
of this village can also be seen, dominating the Mgarr
Harbour while on the ferry boat, half way between Gozo
and Malta.
Fort Chambray, situated on top of the
hill of Mgarr, called “Ras it-Tafal”. It
was once planned by the Knights to build a Valletta
in Gozo, so as to protect the Gozitans from the attacks
of the Corsairs. But this fort has never been completed,
nor became a city. Spectacular views can be seen from
this fort of the Mgarr Harbour, and the other two islands.
Ix-Xatt l-Ahmar bay is a small bay
located in the south-west of Mgarr. It is an ideal place
for diving. The seabed in this place provides various
types of fish and plants. The Gozo ferry boat, named
Xlendi was also sunk here, as an artificial reef.
The chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes,
dominating the Mgarr Harbour, was built in 1888. The
architectural work was finished by the Maltese architect
Caruana Galizia on a Gothic style.
The parish church of Ghajnsielem, situated
in Independence Sqaure, is dedicated to Our Lady of
Loreto. It was built in gothic style and in the form
of a latin cross. Its titular statue was ordered after
Ghajnsielem was spared from Cholera in 1865. In the
vicinity of this parish church, there is a square named
“Pjazza tad-Dehra”, meaning Square of the
Apparition. The monument that is found in this square,
symbolizes the apparition of a lady to Anglu Grech,
who was a local Shepard. |
