Bus Route: Victoria to Xaghra - Bus
No.64, 65 |
Apart from being in itself a picturesque
village, the village
of Xaghra is rich in historical heritage and therefore has plenty
to offer to its visitors. Situated towards the north east of the
capital town of Victoria,
Xaghra is encircled by the beautiful bays of Ramla,
Ghajn Barrani and Marsalforn,
while the valleys of Ramla, Ta' l-Ghejjun and Marsalforn caress
this lovely village.
Ramla Bay with its unique honey-red sand is the most popular beach
on the island during summer. The plateau hilltop on which the town
stands descends towards several evergreen valleys. Amongst them
one finds the Eghzien Valley and Ghajn Xejba Valley, which lead
into Marsalforn Valley. The terraced fields are the utmost fertile
areas and are henceforth the source of the best agricultural products
and grapes of the highest quality. Xaghra is certainly one of the
areas of Gozo that has seen human habitation since extremely early
times - Here one can find the Neolithic temples
of Ggantija, which are acknowledged to be the oldest free-standing
structures in the world.
On that edge of the town overlooking a splendid view of Ramla
Bay, one can find the Calypso Cave, the home of the nymph Calypso
mentioned in Homer's Odyssey. Other caves are renowned for the fantastic
shapes of their stalagmites and stalactites, formed over the ages
by the slow filtration of rainwater through the limestone which
composes the tableland. Xerri's Grotto and Ninu's Cave are ample
examples of such natural marvel.
The village boasts an attractive windmill known as Ta' Kola Windmill,
after its last tenant. The present windmill structure was built
on 5th September 1786. It is the only windmill in Gozo that has
its own original wooden cogwheel machinery in good functioning order.
Intensive restoration was carried out on the Windmill in the early
90's that gave her back its original splendour. Today it is functioning
as a museum rendering Ta'
Kola Windmill an ideal attraction to hundreds of tourists who visit
Xaghra all year round.
The feast is celebrated
every 8th September, locally known as "Il-Festa tal-Vittorja"
commemorating the victory of the Maltese under the Knights of St.
John over the Turks in the Siege of 1565. The feast of the Nativity
of Our Lady has been since then a traditional national holiday.
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