| | Fort Chambray
Within the precincts of Ghajnsielem one finds the famous and historic Fort chambray. This fortress is built on the hill called 'Ras it-Tafal' which is situated between the port of Mgarr and that of Xatt l-Ahmar. It was built at the expense of a Norman Count of the Order of St John, named Francois Chambray during the reign of Grand Master Pinto. more
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| | Comino
This small island, about one square mile in area is situated nearly at exactly the same distance between Malta and Gozo. At first glance, Comino strikes you as having a rather barren appearance. The Island is best known by tourists for a stretch of sea with a unique clear turquoise blue water known as the Blue Lagoon. It is simply an undiscovered paradise. more
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| | MGARR HARBOUR
The first impression one gets of the Mgarr Harbour today is one of bustling activity. The harbour area remains one of great scenic beauty. Approaching Gozo from the sea, one is impressed by the beautiful verdant cliffs and valleys overlooking the harbour. Fort Chambray is conspicuous on the wooded hill overlooking the two quays. more
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| | THE ARCH-PARISH CHURCH AND THE TITULAR STATUE
By the turn of the century, the old parish church was deemed to small for the needs of a growing village and plans were made to erect a new temple. Little did the villagers know that the building of the new church would dominate their ambitions for over half a century in which they bore the responsibility for a project which few thought they would see completed. more
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| | Old Parish Church
The building of the church that eventually became the parish church is related to the vision of Anglu Grech. Anglu, it is recorded, received a heavenly request to raise a church. At that time, Ghajnsielem was within the parish of Nadur and without loss of time, the people obtained permission from the parish priest of Nadur to build the church. more
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| | LOURDES CHAPEl AND LOURDES home
The harbour is dominated by a gothic church that fits Mgarr hill like a royal crown but whose existence may be owed to a mundane traveller. In 1879, it is said, some visitor pointed out that the rocks of the hill were similar to the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes. Only 21 years had passed since young Bernardette was honoured with visions of Our Lady. more
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| | St Anthony's Church AND PADOVA RETREAT HOME
The Custody of the Franciscan Friars took an important decision in its chapter of the 1899 to build a convent in Gozo. On November 1899 Franciscan Minors (Ta Giezu) came to Gozo and settled in a house called 'Ta Gliex' at Ghajnsielem in the street St Anthony leading to the villages of Nadur and Qala. This was the first convent for the Franciscans on Gozo. more
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| | PJAZZA TAD-DEHRA AND THE Apparition Monument
The Pjazza tad-Dehra at the end of Wied Simirat is the heart of Ghajnsielem both geographically and historically. It was in this square that 'Ghajn Salem', the spring that gave its name to the village used to flow. It was next to this spring that one of the first Ghajnsilmizi received a heavily message from a beautiful lady dressed immaculately white. more
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| | St Cecilia Tower and Chapel
The Tower of Mgarr ix-Xini which was built to safeguard the island was not adequate and a bigger tower was built inland on the hill overlooking the bay. It is strategically situated midway between Mgarr Harbour and Citadel. Near this tower there is a small church known as 'Saint Cecilia Chapel'. It is the best surviving example of the Medieval Chapels. more
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| | Ix-Xatt l-Ahmar
On the Rabat-Mgarr road, parallel to the towering bell-tower of the parish church, a secondary road on the left least down to a secluded bay known as ix-Xatt l-Ahmar, literally, the Red Bay. because of the reddish brown colour of the soil of the terraced fields falling towards the bay. The building in the middle of the bay is a former Marine Police station built in 1886. more
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| | THE FOUGASSE
One of the most fascinating adjuncts of coastal defence introduced in Malta by the Knights of St John was the fougasse. Its purpose was to shower with stones the enemy ships attempting to make port or enter a bay. Only a handful of the fougasses have survived and one of them was recently discovered at the Xatt l-Ahmar coastline. more
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| | Mgarr ix-Xini Tower
The port of 'ix-Xatt l-Ahmar' is situated on the other side of 'Ras it-Tafal' with Fort Chambray towering on the clay slopes. This bay was used by Turkish raiders in raids on Gozo, especially the famous raid of 1551, when according to historians, the whole population was carried off into slavery. The tower was functioning by June 1661. more
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| | Garzes Tower
The problem of corsair entering Mgarr Harbour to replenish their vessels with water and to plunder the fields existed from time immemorial. Grand Master Martin Garzes decided to finance the building out of his own purse. He died before the project started but he made a provision in his will for the financing of the work. It was situated on the site which is now occupied by l-Mgarr Hotel. more
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| Niches around Ghajnsielem
Brief information about various niches in Ghajnsielem including the Madonna tal-Karmnu, the Madonna of Podu Selvu, Saint. Francis of Assisi, Saint Anthony and Saint Andrew. In Ghajnsielem there are at least three niches representing l-Madonna tal-Karmnu and two niches representing Saint Anthony of Padova. more
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| | Borg Gharib
Clearly visible from the same Rabat - Xewkija - Qala road, in the area known as il-Gudja, there is a mysterious lofty heap of stones called Borg Gharib. Legend says that a foreigner lies buried beneath this mound. The story goes every day at dusk, a mysterious man on a white steed rode towards Qala to light a lamp in the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary. more
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| | Imrejzbiet AND TAL-QIEGHAN PREHISTORIC TemplES
The two sites, tal-Qighan and L' Mrejzbiet were probably a single complex with a unique combination of a major temple, a cult center and one or more settlements but now disjoined and trounced by the modern road and the twentieth century buildings. It is indeed a key site worth protecting with utmost vigilance for in the future it could be developed into a great attraction. more
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| | BelvedereS IN GHAJNSIELEM
Ghajnsielem has several elevated points of vantage affording extensive view of picturesque Mgarr harbour and beyond. The best belvedere is beyond Pjazza ta-Dehra half way in Triq Hamri offering a view of the harbour across Wied lil-Kbir. Another Belvedere is situated below in the lower part of Triq Sant Antnin, in front of the Grand Harbour. The third is the parvis of the Lourdes Chapel. more
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| | Gozo Heritage (closed)
Situated inside a fascinating old building, the Gozo Heritage is a museum that offers a mixture of spectacular historical experience of Gozo together with an appropriately set area where the visitor could buy local crafts or enjoy a cup of coffee. The museum introduces the visitor, in leisurely fashion, to 7,000 years of Gozitan history. more
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