Landmark church in Gozo provides panoramic view facility for visitors

A lift has been installed at St John's rotunda church at Xewkija, offering visitors the opportunity to appreciate the view from the roof of the huge church.

The church is a landmark in Gozo, visible from practically every corner of the island as well as several parts of Malta.

Deputy archpriest Fr George Mercieca said the result of the sightseeing works, embarked upon last February, was proving to be very popular with tourists.

He said Lm12,000 had been spent on the hydraulic lift which, for 50c, takes visitors up to the roof 30 metres above ground and some 104 metres above sea level.

"It is a first for Malta and Gozo and it is similar to lifts installed in churches in other countries, including St Peter's in Rome," he said.

"The rotunda is seen from every spot in Gozo, imagine the beautiful 360 degree panoramic view of the island and beyond."

The idea to create the facility for visitors was conceived after visitors to the church asked their guides whether it was possible to go up to the roof.

The church is very popular with visitors to Gozo primarily because it rises so high - its highest point is over 80 metres above the ground.

Fr Mercieca said the church's popularity was due to its architecture, which was different from that of other churches, as well as the beauty of the Maltese limestone when left in its original state.

Some 9,000 people visit the rotunda each month during the peak tourism season.

A walk on the roof, where signs have been installed to help visitors get around, is an experience not to be missed.

A look down over Xewkija gives an idea about the way old villages used to be laid out, with the church occupying the centre, and houses radiating away from the main square in front of it.

Fr Mercieca said that eventually stairs would also be built to take visitors 20 metres higher, onto a two metre ledge by the dome, which will have railings installed.

The additional facility will enable visitors to walk around the base of the dome which has a circumference of 85 metres.

Another idea being considered is the opening of a museum of craftsmanship on the roof showing the tools used by the church builders. The tools are stored in an annexe of the church.

St John's rotunda was built between 1951 and 1971 on the same site, and over the old church which was demolished when the new church was completed.

Xewkija parishioners - Xewkija at that time had a population of 700 families - responded to an appeal for contributions for the new church and as a start contributed Lm18,000 in cash and Lm2,000 worth of earrings, rings and gold chains donated by women. Eight persons offered Lm500 each for the eight ferro-concrete support columns of the church.

During weekly door-to-door collections parishioners used to donate one shilling (five cents) and larger collections were made twice a year. Every New Year's Day families used to send Strina, a cash gift, to the archpriest.

Farmers, poultry breeders and fishermen also helped by contributing a share of their produce while two fairs were held annually in which rabbits, hens and eggs donated by parishioners were auctioned.

Emigrants too periodically sent donations to help build the church.

Ruins of a megalithic temple dedicated to the goddess of fertility, which were excavated in 1647, had made way for the old church which was built in 1655.

Another attraction at the rotunda is a Museum of Sculpture.

Sculptures from the old smaller church were meticulously photographed and numbered to be assembled again at the museum adjacent to the new church. The flooring of the museum is formed of marble tombstones from the old church.

Comments written in the visitors' book at the entrance of the church show the appreciation for the architectural work.

The late British comedian Harry Secombe described the rotunda "A modern miracle" when he visited it.

"A gift to humanity" is the description given by a tourist recently.

Archpriest Carmelo Mercieca - the deputy archpriest is his brother - appealed to agents who organise excursions to Gozo to inform tourists about the opportunity to visit the unique rotunda of Xewkija and include a visit in their Gozo programme.

He made another appeal to visitors: his church is not a museum, it is the Lord's home - "so do not just 'visit' it without discovering the Lord Himself".