Another reason to protect Ramla l-Ħamra

Lately, the regular item on protecting our heritage featured Ramla l-Ħamra, which has been in the news several times over controversial development plans.

I would like to draw attention to the fact that there once existed a hermitage owned by Austin Friars on this site. The Austin Friars were hermits till the reform of 1256 and kept the title to the middle of the last century.

J. Gavigan in De Vita Monastica Africae Septentrionalis writes that the Vandals in 429 entered Africa a few months before Augustine died. In 439 the Austin Friars were spread and exiled. So, they entered Sicily, Sardegna and Malta.

They had their hermitage at Xagħra, in Ta' Gajdoru (a broken Latin word Gaudiorum, which means "joy"). A column still exists on which the statue of Our Lady was placed.

The stay of the Austin Friars was mentioned by Attardi B. Monachesimo, Cabreo G. Zammit, De Soldanis, A. Francesco Habela and A. Ferris. They left fearing Arabic invasions and then settled at Rabat, Gozo.

Prof. Mgr. Luigi Vella, in his historical romance Nikol Abdull, mentions the Austin Friars' stay at Ramla l-Ħamra during Arab rule. In his book Vella mentions not only the church but some houses as well. I guess there was a hamlet there.

Mgr Pietro Dusina, during his Pastoral visit to the Maltese islands in the 16th century, mentioned the church of Our Lady Ta' Gaidoru at Ramla l-Ħamra.

Not long ago, an Italian professor of archaeology found some remains there, perhaps the monastery foundations.

So great attention must be taken before any decisions are taken over development at the site. There are still remains to be excavated.