Culture of Comino Island. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Megalithic temples Ggantija on Gozo Island is considered to be one of the oldest constructions on Earth. These cult buildings of the past civilization are about a hundred years older than the Great Pyramids. On the outskirts of Sannat village, there is another monument of ancient times – the dolmens. The central landmark of Gozo goes back to medieval times. In Victoria, the capital of the Island, there is the Citadel – a perfectly-preserved tower, built by the Knights of the Order of Malta. For many years it was a shelter for the locals in case of the attacks, and now it is an outdoor museum, opened to any tourist.

However, not only the Citadel itself is remarkable for the history enthusiasts. Inside this old building, there are archeological, natural science, and folklore museums. The latter is an exposition of the goods, connected to the folk crafts and tales. While in the tower, you can also visit the armory and learn about the life of the prisoners from the past in the Old Prison. There is also the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, which construction is dated back to the 17th-18th centuries.

Another reminder of a complicated history of the Island, which suffered from the attacks of the “dashing people”, are the watchtowers. There are four of them: Mgarr ix-Xini, Xlendi, Dwejra, and San Blas. They all were constructed in the second part of the 17th century for protection from the pirates, criminals, and the quarantine-breakers. If you want to see the watchtowers with your own eyes, Mgarr, Xlendi, San Lawrenz, and Nadur are the places to visit. The easiest way is to get to Xlendi. Near Mgarr village there is Fort Chambray, which was built at the end of the 18th century. The majestic building was supposed to take on the role of the Citadel, but that didn’t happen. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The cult of Madonna Ta’Pinu is quite popular on Gozu. If you want to learn more about it, go to Ta’Pinu Marian Shrine, located between Gharb and Ghasri villages. According to the legend, in the early 20th of the last century, at this exact place, a local woman saw Our Lady. Near Gharb village, there is the Chapel of St Demetrius. The exact story of its appearance on the Island is unknown, but many locals connect it to the salvation of an old woman Zgugine’s son, who was released from the pirates’ captivity by the Saint. There is one of the biggest temples in Europe in Xewkija village, which many call the Gozitanian answer to the Rotunda of Mosta. Ta’Kola windmill, one of a few island windmills with sails, is also quite remarkable. Built in the 18th century, it was leased to the knights for many years after.

The central building on Comino is St Mary’s Tower. In its functions, this ancient construction is similar to the Citadel in Gozo. The Crusaders built this fortress to protect the local people from the attacks from the seaside, otherwise, the people would have become slaves to the pirates. By the medieval standards, the construction was laborious, as the building materials were shipped by sea. In the 17th century there was a prison in the Tower. There is also a remained 17th-century chapel in honor of the Return of the Holy Family from Egypt. The Battery, built in Comino in the beginning of the 18th century by the Knights, remained till the present days. It is a semicircular construction with embrasures for heavy guns fire, two of which remained in a good condition and are still in the Battery.