Tags
- Community
- Government Organization
Description
Ghasri is a village in the western part of Gozo, Malta with a population of 525 people (as of March 2014). By population, it is the smallest village in Gozo after San Lawrenz, and the third smallest in the Maltese Islands, after Bidnija and Mdina. However, Ghasri has a relatively large area.
The village lies between the hills of Zebbug and Ghammar. The name has Arabic origins, possibly being an area where olives were crushed for oil. Ghasri is reached by forking right on the Victoria-Gharb road just after the Aqueduct.
A lighthouse on Gurdan hill, better known as the Giordan Lighthouse dominates Ghasri. 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 tackle the rather steep path up to the hilltop.
From the village square, a road leads to the fabulous valley of Wied il-Ghasri. 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-Ghasri 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-Ghasri is very popular among divers.
The village church, designed by a local priest, Dun Guzepp 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, otherwise known as Christ the Saviour in the Eucharist on 9th January 1916. The village was established a parish by Bishop Giovanni Maria Camilleri on 16 December 1921.
