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Brief Information about the Village of Qala.
Qala is situated
in the easternmost tip of the island of Gozo. The name
of this village means “sheltered harbour”.
Although Qala is the farthest village from Gozo’s
capital city, Victoria, it is the closest to the rest
of the Maltese islands.
Qala’s coastline is characterized
by cliffs and rocky outcrops. Fascinating scenes of
the bay of Dahlet Qorrot can be scene from this village.
On the other hand, when looking to the South from Qala,
both the island of Comino and the Blue Lagoon can be
seen, which is a magnificent sea area with clear light
blue waters.
Two bays are to be found in this village,
which are to be found along the main street that passes
though the village square and on towards are found the
bays of Iz-Zriezaq and Hondoq ir-Rummien. The latter
happens to be one of the best swimming spots on the
island.
This quiet rural village possesses
one of the Malta’s few surviving 19th century
windmills, but which are no longer in use. One of these
windmills still has got sails and equipment in its interior.
In an extreme part of this village, facing Comino, a
small fort called San Anton redoubt is found. In old
days it served to safeguard the island from unwanted
invaders approaching from the sea.
The parish church of Qala is dedicated
to St. Joseph. It is built in baroque style, a style
in which many churches on the island were constructed
in this style. This church became the first parish to
be established after the establishment of the Diocese
of Gozo. Some distance away from the parish church of
Qala is a massive pillar of granite fixed firmly in
the ground called menhir. The Sanctuary of the Immaculate
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is another church
positioned in Qala. It is one of the oldest chapels
in Gozo, which also holds one of the best paintings
(the altarpiece) to be found on the island, by Federico
Barocci di Urbino. One finds this chapel on the way
to the bay of Hondoq ir-Rummien. |
