Explore Gozo

Sannat or more precisely Ta' Sannat, lies to the south of the island of Gozo. The name is probably derived from that of an Arabic-Greek family that moved to Gozo from Sicily.

At Ta' Cenc, (within the limits of ta' Sannat), there is L-Imramma Temple, a primitive type prehistoric temple made up of a sort of an oval court with a series oval rooms to the north. Other interesting remains are three dolmens. Ta' Cenc is also famous for its spectacular precipices or cliffs, that are the natural home of several wildlife species, both flora and fauna. Lying low by Ta' Cenc, one could admire the natural beauty of Hanzira valley, a natural gorge separating Sannat from the village of Xewkija.

The valley, due to its steep rocky sides, has little signs of human interference and leads down to Mgarr ix-Xini Bay to the South of Gozo. This bay is not as popular with swimmers as it is with divers as it is one of Gozo's best places for diving and the wreck of the once Malta-Gozo ferryboat Xlendi rests on the seabed, a few hundred metres away from the bay's outer stretches.

Sannat was one of the first places in Gozo to become a separate parish. Bishop Davide Cocco-Palmieri established the parish of Sannat on 28 April 1688. The present church dedicated to St. Margaret Martyr was initiated on the site of a smaller one in 1718 and was consecrated on 16 October 1755. However, after the significant structural changes, it was consecrated again on 22 November 1868. It was raised to the Archipresbyteral status on 27 December 1893. The church has a very good altarpiece by Stefano Erardi, a famed local painter. The village feast of St. Margaret is celebrated each year around the third week of July.

Farmhouses in Sannat