Għarb
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Għarb
L-Għarb Garbo | |
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Għarb | |
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Motto(s): In Estremo Vigilat (Sentinel at the Borderline) | |
![]() Għarb | |
Coordinates: 36°3′40″N 14°12′33″E / 36.06111°N 14.20917°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Region | ![]() |
District | Gozo and Comino District |
Borders | Kerċem, Għasri, San Lawrenz |
Government | |
• Mayor | David Apap Agius (Għarb l-Ewwel) |
Area | |
• Total | 4.6 km2 (1.8 sq mi) |
Population (Jan. 2019) | |
• Total | 1,298 |
• Density | 280/km2 (730/sq mi) |
Demonym | Tal-Għarb |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | GRB |
Dialing code | 356 |
ISO 3166 code | MT-14 |
Patron saint | Visitation of Our Lady to Saint Elizabeth |
Website | Official website |
Għarb (Maltese: L-Għarb) is an administrative unit of Malta, located at the westernmost point of the island of Gozo, with a population of 1,539 people (as of March 2014).[1]
History
[edit]Għarb started as a small hamlet which developed around the middle ages. The word Għarb (غرب) is the Arabic word for West, so it should be no surprise that the village is the most westerly place on Gozo. One can see its ancient roots in the centre of the village where some houses have fine examples of decorated stone balconies. Għarb was created as a parish in 1679, a move which gave impetus for the building of a new, baroque parish church. Built between 1699 and 1729, it has an elegant façade which has been compared to Francesco Borromini's Church of Saint Agnes in Piazza Navona, Rome. The village square, so quintessentially Gozitan, has become the view on many a postcard. On the square is a folklore museum housing memorabilia retelling the Islands' rural history. Għarb lies in some of Gozo's most scenic countryside, particularly at Dbieġi, the highest hill on the Island. Also at Dbieġi is a centre for Gozitan crafts. Within the limits of Għarb is the Chapel of San Dimitri. According to legend, the first chapel was built on the cliff side by a woman whose son was freed from captivity by St. Demetrius. Also nearby is the Basilica ta' Pinu, Malta's pre-eminent shrine to the Virgin Mary. It was on this spot in 1883, that a local woman heard the voice of the Virgin. The parish church is dedicated to the visitation of Saint Mary to her cousin Saint Elizabeth. The late Karmni Grima, Frenċ tal-Għarb and Sunta tal-Għarb are two of its most renowned villagers.
Zones in Għarb
[edit]- Birbuba
- Ħodba
- Il-Wileġ
- San Katald
- Ta' Lamuta
- Ta' Pinu
- Ta' Santu Pietru
- Il-Fgura
- Taż-Żejt
- il-wilga
- Wied tal-Knisja
- Wied il-Mielaħ
- Ta' Ħries
- Fuq il-blata
- Tat-trux
- Il-misrah
Twin towns – sister cities
[edit]Castrolibero, Italy
Massafra, Italy
Pace del Mela, Italy
Tortona, Italy
Torrent, Spain
Cépet, France
References
[edit]- ^ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
- ^ "Twinning". localgovernment.gov.mt. Government of Malta. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)