Għasri (original) (raw)

Local council in Gozo Region, Malta

Għasri L-Għasri
Local council
Għasri as seen from the CittadellaGħasri as seen from the Cittadella
Flag of GħasriFlagCoat of arms of GħasriCoat of arms
Motto: Ex labore fructus
Coordinates: 36°3′30″N 14°13′40″E / 36.05833°N 14.22778°E / 36.05833; 14.22778
Country Malta
Region Gozo Region
District Gozo and Comino District
Borders Għarb, Kerċem, Victoria, Żebbuġ
Government
Mayor Daniel Attard (Independent)
Area
• Total 5 km2 (2 sq mi)
Population (Jan. 2019)
• Total 424
• Density 85/km2 (220/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Għasri (m), Għasrija (f), Għasrin (pl)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code GSR
Dialing code 356
ISO 3166 code MT-16
Patron saint Corpus Christi
Day of festa June
Website Official website

Għasri (Maltese: L-Għasri) is a village and an administrative unit of Malta, in the western part of the island of Gozo, with a population of 525 people (as of March 2014).[1] By population, it is the smallest village in Gozo after San Lawrenz, and the third-smallest in the Maltese Islands, after Bidnija and Mdina. Għasri, however, has a relatively large area.

The village lies between the hills of Żebbuġ and Għammar. The name has Arabic origins and refers to the period of the day in between the afternoon and the evening.

Giordan Lighthouse on Ġurdan hill dominates Għasri. Inaugurated in 1853, the famous lighthouse rises 180 metres above sea level. Its beam can be seen up to 50 kilometres away. Upon the hill around the lighthouse there are 360-degree views of Gozo that lure many hikers to ascend the steep path to the hilltop.

A view of the Gurdan Lighthouse.

From the Village Square, a road leads to the fabulous valley of Wied il-Għasri. On the way, there are a number of typical farmhouses, most of them available for short or long lets, as well as an old chapel dedicated to the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Wied il-Għasri area is a marvelous country walk or cycling site especially in winter and spring. The valley ends in the sea, between high cliffs with a secluded inlet where visitors can swim, snorkel and dive -- the sea around Wied il-Għasri is popular among divers. In Għasri valley one can find saltpans.

The village church, designed by a local priest, Dun Ġużepp 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 9 January 1916. The village was established as a parish by Bishop Giovanni Maria Camilleri on 16 December 1921.

Għasri is reached by forking right on the Victoria-Għarb road just after the Aqueduct.

Main roads in Għasri

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Twin towns – sister cities

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Għasri is twinned with:[2]

  1. ^ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Twinning". localgovernment.gov.mt. Government of Malta. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2019.

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