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]
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.
Titular Statue of Saint John
The name is derived from the Maltese word "Xewk", meaning "thistles" or "thorns". Xewkija is famous for its church, The Rotunda of Xewkija, which is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. It is the Seat of the Knights of the Order of St. John, and was built from Maltese stone by local masons and craftsmen. It is the largest in Gozo and its dome dominates the village. Its architect was Ġużè Damato. It replaced an older church. The titular statue of Saint John the Baptist was sculpted in wood by Pietro Paolo Azzopardi in 1845.[2]
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]
Front cuppola of the church being built
The Majmuna Stone with an Arabic inscription dating back to 1174 was possibly found in Xewkija. It commemorates the death of an Arab girl named Maymūnah. The inscription is carved in a thick marble slab, on the underside of which there is a Roman symbol. Brother Gabrijel D'Alappo translated it into Italian and it was later translated into Maltese. It was sent to the Public Library in Malta in 1845 and brought to the Gozo Museum of Archaeology in 1960.
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]
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 Tat-Tmien Kantunieri Windmill erected in the times of Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful. This is unique mill in Gozo because it has points which show the eight principal wind directions.
At Misraħ Imbert one can see the cart ruts, coming from Borġ Għarib, Mġarr ix-Xini, Ta' Ċenċ and Tas-Salvatur.
Statue of Saint John
The Octagonal base Windmill in Xewkija Gozo build by Perellos order which started operating in 1710.
^. Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
^"Pietro Paulo Azzopardi". Good Friday Malta. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
^Azzopardi, Joe (May 2014). (PDF). Vigilo. Din l-Art Ħelwa (45): 44–47. 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.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xewkija.
Xewkija Parish
Xewkija.net - Xewkija Village Portal
Xewkija Local Council
Banda Prekursur- Xewkija Band Club
Radju Prekursur - Xewkija Community Radio
January 27, 2023
xewkija, maltese, italian, casal, xeuchia, pronounced, written, casal, sceuchia, administrative, unit, malta, island, gozo, population, march, 2014, casal, xeuchia, casal, sceuchialocal, councilrotunda, flagcoat, armsmotto, nemo, impune, lacessitcoordinates, 0. 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 Xewkija Ix XewkijaCasal Xeuchia Casal SceuchiaLocal councilRotunda of XewkijaFlagCoat of armsMotto Nemo me impune lacessitCoordinates 36 1 59 N 14 15 30 E 36 03306 N 14 25833 E 36 03306 14 25833 Coordinates 36 1 59 N 14 15 30 E 36 03306 N 14 25833 E 36 03306 14 25833Country MaltaRegionGozo RegionDistrictGozo and Comino DistrictBordersFontana Għajnsielem Munxar Sannat Victoria XagħraGovernment MayorHubert Saliba PL Area Total4 5 km2 1 7 sq mi Population March 2014 Total3 300 Density730 km2 1 900 sq mi Demonym s Xewki m Xewkija f Xewkin pl Time zoneUTC 1 CET Summer DST UTC 2 CEST Postal codeXWKDialing code356ISO 3166 codeMT 62Patron saintJohn the BaptistDay of festa24 June nativity 29 August martyrdom WebsiteOfficial website Contents 1 History 2 Facilities 3 Twin towns sister cities 4 Notable people 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditXewkija 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 Jeronimo 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 Titular Statue of Saint John The name is derived from the Maltese word Xewk meaning thistles or thorns Xewkija is famous for its church The Rotunda of Xewkija which is dedicated to St John the Baptist It is the Seat of the Knights of the Order of St John and was built from Maltese stone by local masons and craftsmen It is the largest in Gozo and its dome dominates the village Its architect was Ġuze Damato It replaced an older church The titular statue of Saint John the Baptist was sculpted in wood by Pietro Paolo Azzopardi in 1845 2 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 Front cuppola of the church being built The Majmuna Stone with an Arabic inscription dating back to 1174 was possibly found in Xewkija It commemorates the death of an Arab girl named Maymunah The inscription is carved in a thick marble slab on the underside of which there is a Roman symbol Brother Gabrijel D Alappo translated it into Italian and it was later translated into Maltese It was sent to the Public Library in Malta in 1845 and brought to the Gozo Museum of Archaeology in 1960 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 EditOn the suburbs of the village there are the University of Malta Gozo Campus and the offices of the Employment amp 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 Tat Tmien Kantunieri Windmill erected in the times of Grand Master Ramon Perellos y Roccaful This is unique mill in Gozo because it has points which show the eight principal wind directions At Misraħ Imbert one can see the cart ruts coming from Borġ Għarib Mġarr ix Xini Ta Ċenċ and Tas Salvatur Statue of Saint John The Octagonal base Windmill in Xewkija Gozo build by Perellos order which started operating in 1710 Twin towns sister cities EditSee also List of twin towns and sister cities in Malta Xewkija is twinned with 6 Castelvenere Italy Modica Italy Pachino ItalyNotable people EditDun Guzepp Attard Dun Grezz Farrugia Maria Grech Rosa MagroSee also EditGozo FarmhousesReferences Edit 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 Azzopardi Joe May 2014 The Gourgion Tower Gone but not Forgotten Part 2 PDF Vigilo Din l Art Ħelwa 45 44 47 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 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xewkija Xewkija Parish Xewkija net Xewkija Village Portal Xewkija Local Council Banda Prekursur Xewkija Band Club Radju Prekursur Xewkija Community Radio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Xewkija amp oldid 1130098191, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
