About
Għarb
Għarb, an archaic Maltese word for west, is the westernmost village of Gozo. It is a place of intense natural beauty especially in the area around the ancient chapel of the bishop–martyr San Dimitri, of legendary fame. In Għarb, there are four small Museums: the Karmni Grima Museum within the house of the woman who received revelations from the Blessed Virgin Mary of Ta’ Pinu; the Frenċ tal-Għarb Museum, the residence of Frenċ (1892–1967), Gozo’s best known herbalist, faith healer, and apostle of the Virgin of Ta’ Pinu; the Għarb Folklore Museum upon the village square; and the Mater Dei Church Museum annexed to the parish church. The baroque Basilica church, one of the most architecturally complete in Gozo, is dedicated to Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. The National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu, annexed to a very old chapel, lies on the outskirts of the village. On 22 June 1883, Karmni Grima, then a middle-aged woman, received a message for prayer from the picture of the Virgin Mary venerated within. The monumental shrine was built between 1920 and 1931. On Ta’ Għammar, the hill in front of the Shrine, there is a Via Crucis or Way of the Cross with fourteen marble statuary groups.
L-Għarb kelma bil-Malti qadim li tfisser punent, huwa fil-fatt l-iktar raħal fil-punent ta’ Għawdex. Huwa post ta’ sbuħija naturali kbira, l-iktar fin-naħħiet ta’ madwar il-kappella antika ta’ San Dimitri, isqof u martri, u li jgawdi fama leġġendarja. Fl-Għarb, hemm erba’ mużewijiet żgħar: il-Mużew Karmni Grima fid-dar tal-mara li rċeviet stedina għat-talb mingħand il-Verġni Mqaddsa Marija Ta’ Pinu; il-Mużew Frenċ tal-Għarb, ir-residenza ta’ Frenċ (1892–1967), magħruf f’Għawdex għat-tħejjija ta’ mediċinali mill-ħxejjex, għal qawwa li jnissel fejqan bil-fidi, u promutur tad-devozzjoni lejn il-Madonna Ta’ Pinu; il-Mużew tal-Folklor tal-Għarb fil-pjazza tar-raħal, b’kollezzjoni folkloristika mill-aqwa; u l-Mużew tal-Knisja Mater Dei fil-binja tal-knisja parrokkjali. Il-Bażilika barokka tal-Għarb, b’arkitettura mill-isbaħ, hi ddedikata lill-Viżitazzjoni tal-Verġni Marija lil Santa Eliżabetta. Is-Santwarju Nazzjonali tal-Madonna Ta’ Pinu, anness ma’ kappella antika tas-seklu ħmistax, jinsab fil-periferija tar-raħal. Fit-22 ta’ Ġunju 1883, Karmni Grima, dak iż-żmien mara ta’ 45 sena, irċeviet messaġġ għat-talb mill-inkwatru tal-Verġni Marija meqjum fil-kappella. Is-santwarju monumentali nbena bejn l-1920 u l-1931. Faċċata tas-Santwarju, fuq il-għolja Ta’ Għammar, hemm Via Crucis jew Triq is-Salib b’erbatax-il grupp statwarju tal-irħam.
