Għajnsielem Il-Kunsill Lokali t'Għajnsielem |
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— Local council — | |||
Għajnsielem | |||
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Motto: Spring of Peace | |||
Coordinates: | |||
Country | Malta | ||
Island | Gozo Island | ||
District | |||
Borders | Nadur, Qala, Sannat, Xewkija | ||
Government | |||
• Mayor | Francis Cauchi (PN) | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 7.2 km2 (2.8 sq mi) | ||
Population | |||
• Total | 2,570 | ||
• Density | 356.9/km2 (924.5/sq mi) | ||
Demonym | Għajnsilmiż (m), Għajnsilmiża (f), Għajnsilmiżi (pl) | ||
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
Postal code | |||
Dialing code | 356 | ||
Patron saint | Our Lady of Loreto | ||
Day of festa | |||
Website | Official website |
Għajnsielem, meaning "Spring of Peace", is a municipality on the southeastern coast of the island of Gozo in Malta, including the entire island of Comino. It has a population of 2,570 residents (2005 census) and is the first Gozitan village that greets the visitor on leaving Mġarr Harbour towards the Gozitan heartland. Its name originated from the water spring, around which in 1700, Grandmaster Perellos built an arcade containing public washbasins and fresh water spouts. Attractions include Lourdes Chapel with its sharp steeple and underlying niche of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fort Chambray andthe towering of Ghajnsielem Parish Church.
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The Latin motto of Ghajnsielem is Ob fontem prosperitas, that is Flourishing because of a spring – Nistaghna b’nixxiegha ilma. The springs in the area were the magnet that attracted the first inhabitants that eventually led to the prosperity of the place.