Church
Xaghra Parish Church
9 locals recommend,
Tips from locals
Karen
January 24, 2022
The neolithic site of Sta. Verna and the famous Calypso Cave are both within the ambit of Xaghra. The present village has a more recent history. It was created as a parish in 1688. At the time, the parishioners had to content themselves with a small church and it was only during the last century that they could afford to build a new one. The new church dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin, was completed in 1855. The church is among one of the most beautiful of the Gozo churches. It stands in a spacious rectangular square, in which one can still see the columnar parish cross and admire the old houses and shops around the perimeter whilst enjoying a traditional meal or an ice cream in one of the restaurants and cafes located around the square. The square is a 10min walk from the property where there are also bus stops with regular public transport linking the village to other parts of Gozo. The church interior is richly decorated with gilt sculptures, stained glass windows, fine Italian marbles and paintings by foremost Maltese artists. The Statue of il-Bambina, representing the Nativity of the Virgin, on it’s silver pedestal is a big attraction to visitors. The statue is carried in procession in the village streets on the feast day, the 8th September, which day is also Victory Day, a National Day in the Maltese Islands.
The neolithic site of Sta. Verna and the famous Calypso Cave are both within the ambit of Xaghra. The present village has a more recent history. It was created as a parish in 1688. At the time, the parishioners had to content themselves with a small church and it was only during the last century tha…
Maria
March 12, 2014
Worth a visit inside the grand church
Maria
November 30, 2016
There are places to buy fresh vegetables, fish market, supermarkets, fuel station...this is the place where the locals tend to their daily needs.
Graziella And Venera
October 27, 2021
Xaghra has a beautiful parish church dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, locally known as Il-Vitorja, the Blessed Virgin Mary of Victories, as it was on 8 September 1565, Mary’s birthday, that the Knights and the Maltese succeeded to overcome a much larger Turkish army and to free Malta and southern Europe from the Islamic onslaughter. The parish of Xaghra was established by Bishop Cocco-Palmeri on 28 April 1688. The parish was originally sited in the chapel of Saint Antony Abbot in the same village. The present church, like many others, grew over and around an older building first recorded late in the seventeenth century. The foundation stone of the present structure was laid on 2 October 1815. It was consecrated on 26 May 1878 and was raised to Archipresbyteral status on 11 March 1893. The fourth Collegiate of Gozo was established at Xaghra on 17 March 1900. The title of Basilica was conferred on the parish on 26 August 1967. The church is covered with marble throughout, but its main attraction is a beautiful statue of the young Virgin Mary, il-Bambina, brought from Marseilles in 1878.
Xaghra has a beautiful parish church dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, locally known as Il-Vitorja, the Blessed Virgin Mary of Victories, as it was on 8 September 1565, Mary’s birthday, that the Knights and the Maltese succeeded to overcome a much larger Turkish army and to free Malta an…
Julie
November 12, 2017
Such a beautiful, magnificant church. Regularly offering services, weddings and other church functions
Unique things to do nearby
Location
Triq Il Knisja
Ix-Xagħra