L-Għasri Il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Għasri |
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— Local council — | |||
L-Għasri | |||
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Motto: EX LABORE FRUCTUS | |||
Coordinates: | |||
Country | Malta | ||
Island | Gozo Island | ||
District | |||
Borders | Għarb, Kerċem, Victoria, Żebbuġ | ||
Government | |||
• Mayor | Andrew Vella (PN) | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 5.0 km2 (1.9 sq mi) | ||
Population | |||
• Total | 418 | ||
• Density | 83.6/km2 (216.5/sq mi) | ||
Demonym | Għasri (m), Għasrija (f), Għasrin (pl) | ||
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
Postal code | |||
Dialing code | 356 | ||
Patron saint | Blessed Sacrament/Corpus Christi | ||
Day of festa | June | ||
Website | Official website |
Għasri (or L-Għasri) is a village in the western part of Gozo (Malta), with a population of 417 people (Nov 2005). By population is the smallest village in Gozo, and the third smallest in the Maltese Islands, after Bidnija (308 people) and Mdina (236 people). Għasri has a quite large territory.
Għasri village lies cuddled between the hills of Żebbuġ and Għammar. The name has obvious Arab origins, possibly being an area where olives were crushed for oil. Għasri is reached by forking right on the Victoria-Għarb road just after the Aqueduct.
A lighthouse on Ġurdan hill, better known as the Gurdan Lighthouse dominates Għasri. The famous lighthouse rises 180 metres above sea level and was inaugurated in 1853. Its beam can be seen up to 50 kilometres away. Upon the hill around the lighthouse there are some marvellous 360 degree views of Gozo and this lures quite a lot of hikers, who challenge the rather steep path up to the hilltop.
From the Village Square, a road leads to the fabulous valley of Wied il-Għasri. On the way, there are a number of typical farmhouses, most of them available for short or long lets, as well as an old charming chapel dedicated to the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Wied il-Għasri area is a marvellous country walk or cycling site especially in Winter and Spring. The valley ends in the sea, wedged between high cliffs where a secluded little inlet makes it ideal for swimming, snorkelling and diving. Indeed, the sea around Wied il-Għasri is very popular among divers.
The village church, designed by a local priest, Dun Ġużepp Diacono, was built early in the twentieth century. Its foundation stone was laid on 6 September 1903 and it was dedicated to the Corpus Christi on 9 January 1916 and later on to Christ the Saviour. The village was established a parish by Bishop Giovanni Maria Camilleri on 16 December 1921.
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