Fontana, Gozo
Encyclopedia
Il-Fontana is a village on Gozo Island, Malta
, with a population of 846 people (Nov 2005).
Fontana originated from the suburb of Victoria
on the Rabat-Xlendi road. Its local name is "It-Triq tal-Ghajn", (the way to the spring), and it took its name from a spring at the bottom of the road leading to Xlendi
, known locally as "il-Ghajn il-Kbira", (the big spring). Fontana is Italian name for a spring.
On the lower part of Fontana, on the right-hand side of the road to Xlendi
, one could not help but notice the evergreen Lunzjata Valley going up to the village of Kerċem
. Local farmers busy around all year long in this fertile part of Gozo.
is also a parish church, and considered to be a national sanctuary of the Sacred Heart.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, with a population of 846 people (Nov 2005).
Fontana originated from the suburb of Victoria
Victoria, Malta
Victoria or Città Victoria is the capital of Gozo, an island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The town has a total population of 6,414 , and by population is the largest locality in Gozo....
on the Rabat-Xlendi road. Its local name is "It-Triq tal-Ghajn", (the way to the spring), and it took its name from a spring at the bottom of the road leading to Xlendi
Xlendi
Xlendi is a village in Malta situated in the south west of the island of Gozo. The name is probably derived from the word "xelandion", a type of Byzantine vessel which may have anchored in the port. It is surrounded by the villages of Munxar, Fontana and Kerċem. Xlendi falls under Munxar for...
, known locally as "il-Ghajn il-Kbira", (the big spring). Fontana is Italian name for a spring.
On the lower part of Fontana, on the right-hand side of the road to Xlendi
Xlendi
Xlendi is a village in Malta situated in the south west of the island of Gozo. The name is probably derived from the word "xelandion", a type of Byzantine vessel which may have anchored in the port. It is surrounded by the villages of Munxar, Fontana and Kerċem. Xlendi falls under Munxar for...
, one could not help but notice the evergreen Lunzjata Valley going up to the village of Kerċem
Kercem
Ta' Kerċem is a village on Gozo Island, Malta, with a population of 1,654 people .The village of Ta' Kerċem lies close by to the south-west of Victoria, spread between the picturesque Lunzjata Valley, the green hills of Tal-Mixta, Għar Ilma and Ta' Dbieġi, and stretching up to the Pond of Għadira...
. Local farmers busy around all year long in this fertile part of Gozo.
The People
Most of the fishermen that operated from the fishing village of Xlendi lived in Fontana. Also some other people used to go hunting in the adjacent Lunzjata Valley. Late in the nineteenth century, they began setting aside part of the proceeds from their catches to construct a church.The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fontana
The foundation stone of the church was laid on 29 January 1893. The church was consecrated twelve years to that day on 29 January 1905, and was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The church was established as parish of Fontana on 27 March 1911 under Bishop Giovanni Maria Camilleri. The spectacular village feast is celebrated each year around the 2nd and 3rd week of June. The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in FontanaSacred Heart Catholic Church in Fontana
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is in Fontana, Gozo Island, part of the Maltese Archipelago. It is the parish church of Fontana, one of the smallest villages on the island. The foundation stone was laid on 29 January 1893. The church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on 29 January 1905 by...
is also a parish church, and considered to be a national sanctuary of the Sacred Heart.
L-Ghajn il-Kbira - The Big Spring
Arched shelters were built in the sixteenth century over the springs for the convenience of people when washing their clothes. A very old irrigation system made up from stone gutters constantly brings water from a spring situated in the Kerċem part of the valley.Shelters
Shelters were built beside the Springs. This was useful for the Fontanin to go for shelter when there were raids during the World War 2. This shelter started at the Springs and ended on a cliff looking over Fontana.Amministration of the Local Council
- Savior Borg (Sindku, PN)
- Anthony Borg (PN
- Lorry Apap (PL)
- Victor Cefai (PN)
- Horace Micallef (PL)
Fontana Main Roads
- Pjazza l-Għejjun (Springs Square)
- Triq il-Kappillan Hili (Parish Priest Hili Road)
- Triq ix-Xlendi (Xlendi Road)
- Triq l-Isptar San Ġiljan (St Julian's Hospital Street)
- Triq Santa Duminka (St Domenica Road)
- Triq Tal-Għajn (Spring Street)
- Triq John Gasperd le merchant (John Gasperd le merchant street)
- Triq Il-Kardinal Alessandro Franchi (Cardinal Alessandro Franchi Street)
- Triq il-Qalb ta' Gesu (Sacred Heart street)
Other Streets in Fontana
- Daħlet ir-Razzett (Farm Street)
- Sqaq l-Andar (Andar Alley)
- Sqaq Bieb il-Għajn (Spring's Door Alley)
- Sqaq l-Għajn Nru.1 - Nru.6 (Spring Alley No.1 to No.6)
- Sqaq Ta' Fuq il-Lunzjata (Fuq il-Lunzjata Alley)
- Sqaq Ta' Kaputt (Ta' Kaputt Alley)
- Sqaq Wara l-Idjar (Behind the Homes Alley)
- Trejqa Grezzja Grima (Grace Grima Path)
- Trejqa ix-Xagħri (Xaghri Path)
- Trejqet iċ-Ċentru Parrokkjali (Parish Centre Path)
- Trejqet il-Ħarrub (Carobs Street)
- Triq Għajn Tuta (Ghajn Tuta Road)
- Triq Le Marchant John Gaspard (Le Marchant John Gaspard Street)
- Triq Mons. Mikiel Buttigieg (Mgr. Michael Buttigieg Street)
- Triq is-Sajjieda (Fishermen Street)
- Triq San Martin (St. Martin Street)
- Triq Ta' Mulejja (Ta' Mulejja Road)
- Triq Wied Siekel (Siekel Valley Road)