Gozitan Villages
Gharb
Population: 900Nearby: Zebbug, Ghasri, San Lawrenz, Dwejra Point, Ta Pinu Church
The village of Gharb, which is situated on the west side of the island, is probably one of the oldest villages found in Gozo. Proof of this is the remains of Neolithic and Bronze Age exposed by archaeological excavations.
When entering this village, one can easily notice the beautiful decorated stone balconies. Situated in the middle of the square, the Parish and the Collegiate Basilica are dedicated to Our Lady visiting St. Elizabeth. The feast is held on the first weekend of July. This baroque church, built between 1699 and 1729, has been compared with Barromini’s St. Agnese in Piazza Navona – Rome.
The Gharb people are famous for cotton weaving, lace making, carpentry and masters in cane-works. They are also famous for the best Gozo cheese. Going out of the centre, is Ta’ Dbiegi Crafts Village, where one can find handmade lace, pottery and also the mouth-blown Gozo Glass.
Gharb also has several museums; two are found in the centre of the village. The Folklore Museum reflects the way our ancestors used to live. Another museum situated in this small village, is that of Frenc Mercieca; also known as Frenc ta’ l-Gharb. This humble saintly man, who cured people by medicinal herbs and by praying to Our Lady, used to leave doctors wondering by his successes.
Another attraction is located some 700 meters away from the centre. The Ta’ Pinu Church, which is dedicated to Our Lady of Assumption, lies on the eastern side of the valley separating Gharb from Ghammar. It is said that a lady (Carmela Grima) used to hear a voice coming out of the chapel. It is believed that the voice is of Our Lady who urged her to recite three Haily Marys in memory of the three days Our Lady’s Body lay in the sepulchre. Carmela recounted her experience to her friend Francesco Portelli who subsequently said that he heard a voice coming from a chapel. It instructed him to pay devotion to the words of Christ’s shoulder while he was carrying the cross.
Nowadays, the sanctuary is a big beautiful church worthy to accommodate the thousand of crowds who flock to this sacred place to pray to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu. Moreover, the house where Carmela Grima and Francesco Portelli used to live, has also been turned into a museum.
Places of Interests:
- Carmela Grima House
- Tal-Fgura Niche
- Frenc Mercieca House
- Ta’ Dbiegi Crafts Village
- Gharb Windmill Tower
- Gharb Parish Church
- Ta’ Pinu Basilica
- St. Demetrius Chapel
Amenities:
- n/a
Restaurants, Snack Bars & Wine Bars:
- Jeffrey’s Restaurant
- Ta’ Salvina Restaurant
- Gharb Football Club
Banks:
- n/a
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