Xewkija

Xewkija is one of Gozo's oldest and largest villages, set roughly midway between Mġarr Harbour and the capital, Victoria. It is best known for the Rotunda of Xewkija, the island's largest church, whose 75-metre limestone dome dominates the skyline and is visible from much of Gozo.

The village became Gozo's first parish outside Victoria in 1678 and was the first settlement to gain official village status. Its name is said to derive from an Arabic term for thorny wasteland, though today it is a settled and well-connected community. At its centre, the Church of St John the Baptist was built in the twentieth century around an older church; its vast unsupported dome, sculpture museum and bell-tower viewpoint are among Gozo's most distinctive landmarks.

On the approach from Mġarr stands the recently restored Knights-period windmill with its unusual octagonal base, while the small chapels of St Cecilia and Madonna tal-Ħniena survive on the village edges. Beyond the built-up centre, Mġarr ix-Xini valley leads down to a sheltered bay popular for swimming, snorkelling and diving, and the surrounding countryside offers walking and climbing routes.

Xewkija also hosts several of Gozo's modern institutions, including the University of Malta Gozo Campus, the Gozo Football Stadium and the island's industrial estate. Its annual festa of St John the Baptist, held around late June, brings music, processions and street celebrations to the village.

For travellers, Xewkija works well as a practical and scenic base: it sits close to Victoria's shops, restaurants and services, is a short drive from the ferry at Mġarr, and offers easy access to Gozo's beaches, trails and historic sites. Business visitors can reach the university campus, industrial estate and conference or event venues in minutes.