A
Brief Information about the Village of Xewkija.
Xewkija takes it
name from the maltese word “xewk”, which
means thorns, since this is the place where thistles
grew. This place is one of the oldest villages on the
island and is very famous for its Rotunda church.
Near the crossroads, before entering
the main street of the village, one can notice a windmill.
It is uniquely built in an eight-sided edifice, corresponding
to the eight dominant winds.
One of the deepest valleys on the island
is also to be found in this village. Wied Hanzira, which
literally means “valley of the sow”, is
abundantly filled with wild plants. It flows from the
end of the village, ending at Mgarr ix-Xini. Mgarr x-Xini
is one of the most peaceful and prettiest long inlet
coves. It is an ideal place for both swimming and diving
and is defined with sheer cliffs and intriguing caves.
This place also attracts divers during the night. A
coastal watch tower is found in this area, which used
to protect the local people from Turkish invaders.
The monumental village church of Xewkija
is built in white local limestone with a dome shape
structure. The parish church dome is in fact the third
largest unsupported dome in the world, dedicated to
St. John the Baptist. This baroque style church is built
around an old parish church. The building of this church
started in 1951 and was terminated in 1978. Also of
particular interest, is the chapel of Our Lady Of Mercy,
which is situated on the outskirts of Xewkija.
Xewkija is also known for its number
of factories which produce numbers of articles, both
for local and for export. It is the only industrial
zone on the island. The Gozo football stadium is also
to be found in Xewkija, where a lot of football fans
entertain themselves during the weekends. The Gozo Heliport
is situated in Xewkija, which links Malta and Gozo with
a helicopter 10 minute service, to the Malta International
Airport. |
