TA PINU GOZO
PLACES TO VISIT  IN GOZO

Ta Pinu Church . Apart from the Cathedral in the Citadel and St. Georges Church in Rabat, there are many other remarkable churches. Well worth seeing is that of Xewkija, namely Xewkija ROTUNDA said to have one of the largest cupolas in Europe, and the basilica o Ta Pinu, the most famous place of pilgrimage for Maltese and Gozitans all the year round.

The Origin of Ta Pinu goes back to June 22, 1883 when a peasant woman Carmela Grima heard the voice of the Blessed Virgin in a litle old chapel. In the following years many miracles and acts of Grace were manifested. It was beleived that the prayers said in the little chapel save Gozo from the plague which had stricken Malta at the time. It ws therefore decided to build a larger and more magnificent Church on the site in honour of the Blessed Virgin.

A collection from the Gozitans including those abroad, with  donations contributed by the community members and much physical work as was the custom when building temples and Churches in the past enabled the people to start construction work in 1920consactrated and in 1932 Pope Pius XI gave the statues of a Basilica to Ta Pinu. The original 16th Century chapel was fully integrated into the new church and can be seen at the far end with its original paintings and votive tablets. 

The Church with its fine tower built in the Romanesque style stands out like a rock giving a salute to the  visitors. The history of Ta Pinu is a typical example of solidarity between the people of Gozo, their deep respect for historic items and their confidence in God.

The Cathedral in the Citadel designed by Lorenzo Gafa was built between 1697 and 1711. An interesting feature of this building is that at the time it was constructed, money was short and would not run to a dome. This lack was brilliantly overcome by the Italian painter Antonio Manuele who produced a magnificent Trope l`Oeil whereby  he created a wonderfull impression that the flat roof was in fact a dome. Significant of the valiant position of the Church in those days are the two ancient cannons at the foot of the Cathedral steps.