Sannat

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 of more or less oval rooms to the north. Other interesting remains are three dolmens, a horizontal, roughly shaped, slab of limestone supported on three sides by blocks of stone standing on end. 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. The pebbly beach of this bay is not as popular with swimmers as it is with divers. In fact Mgarr ix-Xini 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.

USEFUL INFORMATION

How to go: From Victoria Terminus, Bus no. 50 (via Munxar)
Interesting Features:
1. Ta' Cenc Cliffs with views and archaeological Dolmens
2. Access to Mgarr ix-Xini Bay including a walk to Mgarr ix-Xini Watchtower
3. Parish Church dedicated to St. Margaret

Festa of Saint Margaret Martyr – Sannat

The community of Sannat celebrates the feast of its patron saint St. Margaret around the third weekend of July.
Sannat lies to the south of the Island and the name probably derives from a Greco-Arabic family name that moved to Gozo from Sicily.
Sannat was one of the first localities in Gozo to become a separate parish on 28 April 1688. The building of the present parish church dedicated to St Margaret commenced on the site of a smaller church in 1718, but it underwent several structural changes in the 1860s.
It was consecrated on 16 October 1755 but after the structural changes mentioned above, the church was again consecrated on 22 November 1868. It was raised to the Archipresbyteral status on 27 December 1893. The church boasts a very good altarpiece which is attributed to local artist Stefano Erardi (1630-1716).
The first titular statue of St. Margaret was sculpted by Karlu Darmanin (1825-1909) and arrived in Sannat on 7th May 1863. This statue was used in processions till 1890 when it was replaced by an other statue produced by Gallard et Fils of Marseilles. The first procession with the new statue took place on Sunday 26th July 1891.
The community of Sannat also has a young village brass band known as Banda Santa Margerita. During the festive week, this band gives performances both in street marches and also in stage concerts.
The community of Sannat celebrates the feast of its patron saint St. Margaret around the third weekend of July.
Sannat lies to the south of the Island and the name probably derives from a Greco-Arabic family name that moved to Gozo from Sicily.
Sannat was one of the first localities in Gozo to become a separate parish on 28 April 1688. The building of the present parish church dedicated to St Margaret commenced on the site of a smaller church in 1718, but it underwent several structural changes in the 1860s.
It was consecrated on 16 October 1755 but after the structural changes mentioned above, the church was again consecrated on 22 November 1868. It was raised to the Archipresbyteral status on 27 December 1893. The church boasts a very good altarpiece which is attributed to local artist Stefano Erardi (1630-1716).
The first titular statue of St. Margaret was sculpted by Karlu Darmanin (1825-1909) and arrived in Sannat on 7th May 1863. This statue was used in processions till 1890 when it was replaced by an other statue produced by Gallard et Fils of Marseilles. The first procession with the new statue took place on Sunday 26th July 1891.
The community of Sannat also has a young village brass band known as Banda Santa Margerita. During the festive week, this band gives performances both in street marches and also in stage concerts.