Xewkija Travel Guide

 Diana75 Says:  A short time before the Rotunda was completed, the old church was carefully dismantled, and the best parts of it were delicately rebuilt next to the church. The initial idea was to demolish the old church so that the people could use the new Rotunda. But these fantastic... 

 Diana75 Says:  Each of the side chapels of the Rotunda is decorated with beautiful paintings made by Chev. Paul Camilleri Cauchi. Among these paintings we can count: The Vision of Zachariah, The Birth of St John, St John Preaching "Behold the Lamb of God" or The beheading of St John. 

 Diana75 Says:  Symmetrical to the above described Altar of the Blessed Sacrament, on the right side of the Main Altar is another beautiful chapel.The main piece of the chapel no.4 is the Baptismal font dating from 1740. Above the font is a picture of St. John baptizing Jesus Christ. 

 Diana75 Says:  Located on the left side of the church, looking the Main Altar, the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament is dating from the 17th century.Its main attraction is the tabernacle, which once belonged to Mdina Cathedral and was donated to the church by the Bishop M.G. Molina on the... 

 Diana75 Says:  Rotunda's Main Altar was carved in Carrara marble at the Ceccotti Factory in Italy.In the center of the altar is the Immaculate Lamb with angels on each side and surrounded in the corners by the four Evangelists made of bronze. 

 Diana75 Says:  As in the case of the homonym Rotunda of Mosta, the impressive dome is the one that is giving the name of the church – the Rotunda.The internal diameter of the dome is 24.5m, while the external one is of 27m, which a height of 75m from the church floor.The dome is supported... 

 Diana75 Says:  The statue of Xewkija's Patron Saint was made in mulberry wood by the Maltese sculptor Paul Azzopardi of Cospicua in 1845. As in most of Malta's town, with the occasion of Xewkija's feast, the statue is brought on shoulders around the streets of the village in the procession... 

 Diana75 Says:  Once you enter the Rotunda you cannot stop being amazed about its beauty. Made of honey-colored Malta limestone, inside the Rotunda is 64m long and 43m wide.The fantastic dome with an outer circumference of 85m is supported by 8 columns, while the church has 16 large windows... 

 Diana75 Says:  Getting closer to Xewkija from Mgarr Harbor, a wonderful view of the church was displayed to our eyes.The enormous circular structure in white local limestone, it is called Rotunda because of its form.The facade resembles to the famous Basilica of Santa Maria Della Salute in... 

 Diana75 Says:  For the works to the new church many donations were offered, and free labor by the people was forthcoming all the time. Eight persons offered LM 500- each for the eight columns, which support the dome.Together with the local priests, the Archpriest Joseph Grech made... 

 Diana75 Says:  With the growth of Xewkija's population, the need for a new, larger church was felt.The works to the foundations of the new church started at the end of 1951, but the old church of St. John was left in place and continued to function as before until the new building was... 

 Diana75 Says:  Xewkija is considered the oldest village in Gozo. As a confirmation of this statement, more than 350 years ago, ruins of a megalithic temple dedicated to the goddess of fertility were excavated here.The coat-of-arms of Xewkija consists of a gold and red bar in the center of... 

 Diana75 Says:  Rotunda inside: 64m long, 43m wideDome's internal diameter: 24.5mDome's external diameter: 27mDome height: 75mDome weight: 45,000 tonsColumns height: 13.5 Main door: 10m high, 4.8m wide, weights 6 tons.