Joseph Bezzina A walk through the districts of il-Munxar and ix-Xlendi and their history, heritage, and folklore Joseph Bezzina A walk through the districts of il-Munxar and ix-Xlendi and their history, heritage, and folklore With input by Paul Curmi (Munxar) Photos Anthony Grech (Xewkija) Munxar – Gozo GĦAQDA INĦOBBU L-MUNXAR U X-XLENDI 2011 IL-MUNXAR AND IX-XLENDI • 3 First published in 2011 INTRODUCTION by the GĦAQDA INĦOBBU L-MUNXAR U X-XLENDI c/o Wied Mulin, Triq il-Munxar, Munxar-Gozo. MXR 1106. Malta. with This book highlights the varied aspects of the historical, ECO-GOZO natural, and folkloristic characteristics of two contrasting but complementing localities of the island © Joseph Bezzina • 2011 of Gozo: il-Munxar, up to now the last locality of All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored Gozo to be established as a village with its own parish in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, church; and ix-Xlendi, possibly the oldest harbour and known or yet to be invented, for any purpose whatsoever, without port of call on the island with a name that originated the written permission of the author and that of the Għaqda-Inħobbu during the Byzantines in the eighth-ninth century. l-Munxar u x-Xlendi which permission must be obtained beforehand. The Ministry for Gozo through Eco Gozo is indeed proud to have assisted the Għaqda Inħobbu l-Munxar Cataloguing in Publication Data u x-Xlendi in the publication of this book that will promote a walk through the streets, lanes, and paths of Bezzina, Joseph, 1950- these two localities that are blessed with outstanding natural beauty and unparalleled scenes, and unique A walk through the districts of il-Munxar and ix-Xlendi maritime archaeological remains. and their history, heritage, and folklore. / Joseph Bezzina. – Munxar, Gozo : Għaqda Inħobbu l-Munxar u x-Xlendi – Dr Joseph Bezzina’s mastery of the heritage of Gozo Eco Gozo, 2011 coupled with photos of the stunning landscapes and seascapes by the photographer Anthony Grech will 40 p. : col. ill. ; 18 cm. surely make this book a prized addition to Melitensia 1. Munxar (Gozo) – History 2. Xlendi (Gozo) – History 3. lovers and an indispensable tool for all those who walk Munxar (Gozo) – Churches 4. Churches – Gozo, Malta and wander about through the localities of Il-Munxar I. Title and Ix-Xlendi. DDC: 945.8575 LC: DG999.N336C358B4 Melitensia Classification: MZ8 MUN Giovanna Debono Minister for Gozo Computer setting in Times New Roman Production BCD Printed and bound in Malta BCD, Victoria-Gozo. VCT 9016 4 • A WALK THROUGH THE DISTRICTS OF IL-MUNXAR AND IX-XLENDI • 5 FOREWARD Il-Munxar is one of the smallest villages of Gozo. It lies to the south of the island between the village of The publication of this heritage walk is one of a series Ta’ Sannat and the suburb of il-Fontana, just under two of initiatives which the Għaqda Inħobbu l-Munxar u kilometres from it-Tokk the centre of the capital city x-Xlendi has undertaken to valorise the local Heritage Victoria and of Gozo. It juts over the port-hamlet of ix- of Munxar and Xlendi (a typical Gozitan village and Xlendi that forms part of this village. hamlet) to improve the Gozo Tourist Product. The other initiaves include the production of a documentary, The name munxar is derived from a distinguished the setting up of a web-site (www.munxarxlendi.org) feature of the area. Munxar is Maltese for bucksaw, and the installation of two tourist information kiosks and a type of saw typically set in an adjustable H-shaped information panels, all having the same aim of promoting frame and used with both hands for sawing firewood. the natural and cultural assets of Xlendi and Munxar. The imagery is suggested from the promontory that Through this project our organisation is taking on board runs from behind the village church up to Xlendi valley in real terms the Government’s vision to capitalise on sawing into two the surrounding area with the tiny the uniqueness of Gozo’s characteristics and market the Wied l-Għawdxija, literally the valley of the Gozitan Island as a unique rural destination in line with the Eco- (woman) that starts from behind the village church, on Gozo tourism objectives. By promoting Munxar and one side, and Wied ix-Xlendi on the other. Xlendi, Maltese and foreign visitors in Gozo would be in a better position to appreciate the charm of these two The name is first recorded asil monxar in a notarial localities all year round. act drawn by Notary Ferdinando Ciappara on 2 July The realisation of the initiatives mentioned would not 1584. It is interesting that it is mentioned in relation have been possible without the financial assistance to a vinea vitibus et arboribus plantata in contrata of the Ministry for Gozo through the Eco-Gozo grant Xilendi, a vineyard flourishing with vines and other schemes for NGOs. trees in the contrata of ix-Xlendi. This indicates that We invite you to experience the natural beauty of part of the area was an orchard. It is no wonder that il- Munxar and Xlendi with their surroundings and their Munxar is referred to as part of ix-Xlendi, for the latter, people. Enjoy your walk! being a port, was of higher importance than a rocky expanse. The place-name is not restricted to Gozo; a Paul Curmi similar headland to the east of Malta is also known as Inħobbu l-Munxar u x-Xlendi il-Munxar. 6 • A WALK THROUGH THE DISTRICTS OF IL-MUNXAR AND IX-XLENDI • 7 The village arms are Azure a fess indented Argent; that is a blue shield with a white horizontal double-edged band across the centre. Its motto is Parvulus sed munitus, in Maltese żgħir iżda fis-sod, small but secure. This motto refers to the size of the village, but its location on solid rock. Walk This circular walk starts and ends upon the village square of il-Munxar. It goes along a number of streets (= triq in Maltese) of the village of Munxar, through the adjacent countryside, along the port of ix-Xlendi, and back to the village square. The whole length of the trail traced here is just under 6500 metres or 6.5 km long. A number of diversions, indicated by the word DETOUR may prolong the walk or, in some cases, provide a shortcut. Most of the walk is along country streets and pathways, but two short tracts are over rather rough terrain so it is imperative to be prepared. The walk is divided into six segments; distances from one point of the walk to another are rounded up. 8 • A WALK THROUGH THE DISTRICTS OF IL-MUNXAR AND IX-XLENDI • 9 A. From the village square, down Triq San Pawl, Down a few metres in the adjacent up Triq Żgħawri (1000 m). triq San Pawl, there are another two niches. The first, on the right, has a The first part of the walk is from the village square, statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. down triq San Pawl for a few metres, and then a ninety An inscription records that in 1902, degree turn on the left up triq Dun Alan Fenech, onto the Bishop of an irregular square between triq Tnax ta’ Diċembru Gozo granted and triq Żgħawri, and then, at the crossroads, along the an indulgence to whole length of triq Żgħawri. those who recited The spacious square is dominated by the village parish the Creed in front. On the opposite church dedicated to The Shipwreck of Saint Paul. Its side, at the beginning of triq Dun Alan foundation stone was laid on 22 March Fenech, there is another niche with a 1914 and it was consecrated on 18 statue of the Immaculate Conception. October 1925. It will be referred to again at the end of the walk. This short street leads onto the irregular square between triq Żgħawri and triq Tnax ta’ Diċembru 1957. A few The corner house between the square paces down the street on the right, there is a beautifully and triq San Pawl, to the left, has an sculptured niche on the corner house with a stone statue old niche with a stone statue of Saint of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Rosary. This niche, Margaret, a virgin and martyr of the blessed on 18 January 1903, attracted many devotees early fourth century, patron saint of the who regularly went to pray in front. On that occasion, neighbouring village of Ta’ Sannat and, the Bishop of Gozo conceded an indulgence to those formerly, also of Munxar. The statue was who recited the Hail Holy Queen on the spot. commissioned in 1908 as an ex-voto for graces received by Toni Curmi, who lived in that house. On 20 July, the feast day, it was embellished with flowers and banners. At the beginning of World War II, a shelter was excavated beneath this section of the square to shield the villagers from enemy bombs 10 • A WALK THROUGH THE DISTRICTS OF IL-MUNXAR AND IX-XLENDI • 11 The sculpture in the middle of the irregular square at the crossroads between the triq Tnax ta’ Diċembru and triq Żgħawri is by Christian Köller, an Austrian sculptor and occasional visitor to the village. The imagery depicted is related to Gozo and to Austria and it wants to enhance the unity and harmony existing between the two countries. The children of the locality had the opportunity to be part of the project by carrying out chiselling in small areas of the stone under the guidance of the sculptor.