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Brief Information about the Village of Gharb.
Gharb is the name
given to a rich and very fertile village. Gharb is situated
on the outskirts of Gozo on the westernmost part of
the island. No wonder that the name means ‘west’.
This scenic village is a very tranquil and serene place.
Just before approaching this charming
village, a road forks right to the national shrine of
Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu Basilica, which was built
between the years of the 1920 and 1931. It is one of
the most architecturally perfect churches of Gozo, especially
its interior fabulous sculptures and craftsmanship of
designs and patterns on a typically Maltese stone. It
is surrounded by fertile fields, and there are no buildings
nearby, except for a few, which are found at the end
of the road leading to the square in front of the church.
There are two small museums related to this shrine.
Ta Ghammar Hill is found right in front of Ta’
Pinu’s shrine. While walking up this hill, one
finds a series of 14 marble statues representing the
Via Crucis or Way of the Cross line.
The parish of Gharb is dedicated to
the Visitation of the Holy Mary to Saint Elizabeth.
It is the second parish that was raised, preceded by
that of Xewkija. It is another architectural masterpiece,
with magnificent sculptures which are to be found both
on its exterior and in its interior. It is designed
by Francesco Borromini’s Sant’ Agnese in
Agone at Piazza Navona in Rome. |
