Xewkija
Xewkija
Ix-Xewkija Casal Xeuchia, Casal Sceuchia | |
---|---|
UTC+2 (CEST) | |
Postal code | XWK |
Dialing code | 356 |
ISO 3166 code | MT-62 |
Patron saint | John the Baptist |
Day of festa | 24 June (nativity) 29 August (martyrdom) |
Website | Official website |
Xewkija (Maltese: Ix-Xewkija, Italian: Casal Xeuchia, pronounced and written as Casal Sceuchia) is an administrative unit of Malta, on the island of Gozo. The population of Xewkija is 3,300 as of March 2014.[1]
History
Xewkija, which is situated between Għajnsielem and the main town, Victoria, is the oldest village in Gozo. It became the first parish outside Victoria on 27 November 1678. It was separated from the Matrix by Bishop Miguel Jerónimo de Molina and Dun Grezz Farrugia from Valletta, became its first parish priest. It became the first district 'contrada' to be known as 'casale' or village.
The name is derived from the Arabic word "Shawk", meaning "thistles" or "thorns". Xewkija is famous for its church, The
On the site where the present church is, it was said that there was a stone known as 'Maqgħad ix-Xiħ'. Near it there is a small ancient chapel known as Madonna tal-Ħniena (Our Lady of Charity) which was dedicated to San Bartilimew. The Santa Cecilia Tower had been in the limits of Xewkija. There is another tower with the oldest sundial in Xewkija. Remains of Tinghi Tower disappeared in the 20th century. These towers date back to 1613. The Gourgion Tower, which was built in 1690, was demolished during the Second World War to make way for a temporary airstrip.[3]
The
The Banda Prekursur (Precursor Band) is the oldest organization in Xewkija.[4] It was set up on 13 May 1929. Lorenzo Zammit Haber, Marcell Mercieca, Giuseppe Buttigieg, Giovanni Haber and Tomaso Attard were among its founders. Mr. Lorenzo Zammit Haber was first President and Secretary.
The coat of arms of Xewkija is a shield on a gold background with a red horizontal strip between two thorns, one above and one below. The motto of Xewkija is 'Nemo me impune lacessit', that is, 'No one shall attack me with impunity'.[5]
A helicopter service once ran between Malta International Airport and the Xewkija Heliport.
Facilities
On the suburbs of the village there are the University of Malta (Gozo Campus) and the offices of the Employment & Training Corporation. There are also the Gozo Stadium, the Government Farm, St. Mary's Cemetery and Xewkija Cemetery. There is also an industrial estate which employs hundreds of Gozitan workers.
The rising population in Xewkija needed more building sites for houses and housing estates have been developed at Tal-Barmil, Ta' Ġokk and Tal-Ħamrija.
On entering the village from the main road, one sees the remains of the
At Misraħ Imbert one can see the
Twin towns – sister cities
Xewkija is
- Castelvenere, Italy
- Modica, Italy
- Pachino, Italy
Notable people
- Dun Guzepp Attard
- Dun Grezz Farrugia
- Maria Grech
- Rosa Magro
See also
- Gozo Farmhouses
References
- ^ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
- ^ "Pietro Paulo Azzopardi". Good Friday Malta. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ISSN 1026-132X. Archived from the original(PDF) on 15 November 2015.
- ^ "Places of Interest in Xewkija". Xewkija Local Council. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "Xewkija History". Xewkija Local Council. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "Twinning". xewkija.gov.mt. Xewkija Local Council. Retrieved 19 September 2019.