Discover Għasri: Trails, Churches and History

Għasri offers several points of interest to consider when planning your trip: Wied il-Għasri, with its scenery and recreational opportunities, as well as churches and historical remains. You can decide whether you would prefer to spend your stay walking and cycling, exploring the cultural heritage, or doing both.

Wied il-Għasri: Scenery, Trails and Sea

Wied il-Għasri originates at Dbiegi Hill. Divers explore the underwater caves in the sea around the valley. This offers something for different interests: walking and cycling routes lead through the landscape, while the underwater caves are a feature of the diving area.

The Wied il-Għasri area is especially suitable for walking in the countryside and cycling in winter and spring. If you are planning your trip around these activities, the seasonal emphasis offers a practical guide. It describes the focus for walks and cycling trips; diving around the underwater caves is a separate activity.

Churches and Feasts

The Basilica of the Patronage of the Virgin Mary was the first basilica on the island of Gozo. Its place in this history sets it apart from the other religious buildings, whose foundation stones and dedications are also connected with Għasri. The Corpus Christi Church in L-Għasri is dedicated to Corpus Christi; its foundation stone was laid in 1903.

The St Publius Chapel can also be placed in its historical context through specific dates: its foundation stone was laid on 26 July 1850, and the chapel was blessed on 10 October 1852. Its two bells are named Publiju and Pawlu. The feast of St Publius is celebrated on the third Sunday in January.

The feast of Our Lady of the Patronage takes place every year on the second Sunday in October. Programme details may vary; if your stay falls during this period, check the programme in advance. The two feast dates fall in different seasons and can therefore serve as different points of reference when planning.

Archaeological History in Wied

An early Roman rock-cut tomb was discovered in Wied il-Għasri in April 1979. The pottery from the tomb is stylistically dated to the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. Many of the urns still contain cremated human remains. Together, these details give a concrete impression of the archaeological evidence associated with the valley, including both the dating of the pottery and the contents of many of the urns. For a historical perspective on Għasri, this find complements information about the churches and their construction history with a different kind of evidence.

Ta’ Ġurdan Lighthouse and Orientation

The Ta’ Ġurdan Lighthouse was built in 1851 during British rule. The footpath to the lighthouse climbs a moderately steep slope; the hilltop around the lighthouse offers panoramic views. You can consider this section as a combination of a historic structure and the character of the route: as well as the year it was built, the ascent is part of the footpath, while the views from the hilltop add a scenic element.

Another chapel lies along the road from Għasri Village Square to Wied il-Għasri. The road passes a charming old chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This allows you to consider the route between these two named points alongside another part of the religious heritage, without confusing the chapel with the other churches or the St Publius Chapel.

To reach Għasri, turn right just beyond the Aqueduct from the Victoria-Għarb Road. This gives you a clear reference point for your journey, while the other considerations depend on your interests: Wied offers seasonal opportunities for walking and cycling, the underwater caves appeal to divers, and the churches, feasts and archaeological evidence offer different historical themes.

Discover more destinations: Kercem, Mqabba, Iklin, Valletta, Mosta, Xewkija, Ghanjsielem, Xlendi.

For the broader travel overview: Malta.