Għasri
L-Għasri
Local council
Għasri as seen from the Cittadella
Għasri as seen from the Cittadella
Flag of Għasri
Flag
Coat of arms of Għasri
Coat 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
DistrictGozo and Comino District
BordersGħarb, Kerċem, Victoria, Żebbuġ
Government
 • MayorDaniel Attard (Independent)
Area
 • Total5 km2 (2 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)
 • Total424
 • Density85/km2 (220/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Għasri (m), Għasrija (f), Għasrin (pl)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
GSR
Dialing code356
ISO 3166 codeMT-16
Patron saintCorpus Christi
Day of festaJune
WebsiteOfficial website

Għasri (Maltese: L-Għasri) is 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.

A lighthouse on Ġurdan hill, better known as the Giordan Lighthouse dominates Għasri. 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 360-degree views of Gozo that lure many hikers, who 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.

Access and roads

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

Main roads in Għasri

  • Pjazza Salvatur (Corpus Christi Square)
  • Triq il-Fanal (Lighthouse Street)
  • Triq il-Wilġa (Daleland Street)
  • Triq iż-Żebbuġ (Zebbug Road)
  • Triq Salvu Gambin (S. Gambin Street)
  • Triq Dun Karm Caruana (Fr.Carmelo Caruana Street)

Other streets

  • Daħla Ta' Għammar (Għammar Street)
  • Sqaq il-Knisja (Church Alley)
  • Sqaq Wied tal-Qattus (Cat's Valley Alley)
  • Trejqet Ġesù Nazzarenu (Jesus of Nazareth Path)
  • Trejqet il-Farfett tal-Korpus (Corpus Butterfly Path)
  • Triq id-Dehra (Apparition Street)
  • Triq il-Ġonna (Gardens Street)
  • Triq il-Knisja (Church Street)
  • Triq il-Maxrabija (Maxrabija Street)
  • Triq it-Tamar (Dates Street)
  • Triq l-Għarb (Għarb Road)
  • Triq Ta' Għammar (Għammar Road)
  • Triq Ta' Pinu (Ta' Pinu Road)
  • Triq Tal-Fenek (Tal-Fenek Road)
  • Triq Tal-Kanun (Tal-Kanun Road)
  • Triq Wied l-Għasri (Għasri Valley Road)
  • Triq Wied Sara (Sahra Valley Road)
  • Wesgħa Dun Ġużepp Buttigieg (Fr. Joseph Buttigieg Place)

Twin towns – sister cities

Għasri is twinned with:[2]

References

  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. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
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