Xaghra

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 on the north east of the capital town of Victoria, on a lengthy stretch of high ground, 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 by far the most popular beach on the island.
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 spots in Gozo where there has been 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 mythological Calypso Cave, the home of the nymph Calypso mentioned in Homer's Odyssey. Yet 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. This is due to the last tenant who took prestigious care according to the conditions of the lease that was granted to him by the 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.
A curious museum that one should not miss when visiting Xaghra, is the "Pomskizillious" Museum of Toys, where a display of antique collectors' toys is exhibited.
Bishop Davide Cocco Palmieri established Xaghra as an independent parish on 28th April 1688. The first parish church was the medieval chapel dedicated to St. Anthony the Abbot, still standing today. The beautiful, present-day Parish Basilica is dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 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.

USEFUL INFORMATION

How to go: From Victoria Terminus, Bus nos. 64, 65
Interesting Features:
1. Ggantija Neolithic temples
2. Ta' Kola Windmill
3. Xerri's Grotto (an underground natural cave with curious age old stalagmites and stalactites
4. Calypso Cave with view upon Ramla Bay
5. Pomskizillious - Museum of Toys
6. Parish Church dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady
7. Access road to Marsalforn Bay and Fishing Village
8. Ghajn Barrani Cove (pretty bay recommended for the adventurous)

Festa of the Nativity of Our Lady – Xagħra

The feast of the Nativity of Our Lady is celebrated in Xagħra on 8th September of each year. The feast day is also a National Public Holiday otherwise known as Jum il-Vittorja (Victory Day). This is because it recalls the events of the 8th of September 1565, when the Maltese under the Knights of St. John defeated the Ottoman siege of Malta, known as the Great Siege of 1565. This feast is hence locally known also as Il-Madonna tal-Vitorja (Our Lady of Victory).
The parish of Xagħra was established by Bishop Cocco Palmeri on 28 April 1688, the first seat being the chapel of St. Anthony. The new church, which is now the seat of the parish, was built around an older building first recorded late in the seventeenth century. The foundation stone of the present structure was laid on 2 October 1815 and the church was consecrated on 26 May 1878.It was raised to Archipresbyteral status on 11 March 1893 and then established as the fourth Collegiate of Gozo on 17 March 1900. The title of Basilica was conferred on the parish on 26 August 1967.
The artistic statue of the Bambina was commissioned to Gallard et Fils of Marseilles by the then parish priest Rev. Ġwann Camilleri in 1878. The statue cost 313 skudi and was paid for by Mikiel Sultana, Angelo Bonello, Marija Sultana and Toni Attard. Most of the paintings that adorn the church were painted by the Roman artist Profs. Virginio Monti between 1922 and 1932 while the stained glass windows were manufactured in Bari in 1935.

The community of Xagħra has a village brass band known as Victory Band. During the festive week, this band plays both in street marches and also in stage concerts