Għarb

Għarb
Garbo
Local council
Il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Għarb


Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: In Estremo Vigilat
(Sentinel at the Borderline)
Coordinates: 36°3′40″N 14°12′33″E / 36.06111°N 14.20917°ECoordinates: 36°3′40″N 14°12′33″E / 36.06111°N 14.20917°E
Country  Malta
Island Gozo
Borders Kerċem, Għasri, San Lawrenz
Government
 • Mayor David Apap Aguis (PN)
Area
 • Total 4.6 km2 (1.8 sq mi)
Population (March 2013)
 • Total 1,533
 • Density 330/km2 (860/sq mi)
Demonym Tal-Għarb
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code GRB
Dialing code 356
Patron saint Visitation of Our Lady to Saint Elizabeth
Website http://www.gharbnet.com/

Għarb is a village located at the westernmost point of the island of Gozo, Malta, with a population of 1,533 people as of March 2013.[1]

Gharb started life as a small hamlet centuries ago. The word Gharb is Arabic for West, so it should be no surprise that the village is the most westerly place on Gozo. You 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 with 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 all sorts of 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 and Frenc Tal-Gharb are two of its most renowned villagers.

Zones in Għarb

Sister cities

References

  1. ↑ "Estimated Population by Locality" (PDF). Malta Government Gazette (19,094). 31 March 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Għarb.

External links