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Nadur
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Nadur (or In-Nadur) is a village on Gozo Island, Malta.
History
The word "Nadur" which in Maltese means "lookout", is derived from the Arabic word nadara. The town's motto means much the same.
There are no documents or archaeological evidence which could shed light on the colonization of Nadur by its first inhabitants.
Discussion
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Encyclopedia
Nadur (or In-Nadur) is a village on Gozo Island, Malta.
History
The word "Nadur" which in Maltese means "lookout", is derived from the Arabic word nadara. The town's motto means much the same.
There are no documents or archaeological evidence which could shed light on the colonization of Nadur by its first inhabitants. Nevertheless, the plateau and its surroundings, with a few farmhouses scattered here and there, were in existence for many years well before the area became a parish . The only trace of archaeological evidence were a number of large flat stones found in a field between San Blas Bay and Dahlet Qorrot. According to the Gozitan historian G. P. F. Agius de Soldanis these roofed structures, which are not in existence anymore, once used to serve as a sort of temple to the gods. He also imagined that these slabs of stone couldn't have been placed there by normal people but by very strong people or giants. He also wrote that Nadur may have been founded during the time of the Greeks. One proof of this connection is a bronze statue of Apollo said to be found in Nadur in 1744.
Throughout history Nadur played a very important role in the defense of the island from corsairs, hence the name. During the reign of the Knights of St. John, a watch tower was built by Grand Master Nicholas Cotoner which has been referred to by Dahlet Qorrot Tower or San Blas Tower for the two bays lying on either side of it. The tower is locally known as Ta' Sopu Tower.
Another watchtower found in Nadur is Ta' Kenuna Tower built by the British towards the middle of the 19th century. It served as a telegraph link between Malta and Gozo. From the top of this semaphore tower, one can see most of the island, Comino and the northern part of Malta.
Nadur Today
Today, Nadur has a population of almost 4,000 people, which makes it the second most populated Gozitan town after Victoria. A substantial number of Nadurin emigrated to the United States of America, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom particularly in the 1960s.
There are a significant number of farmers in Nadur, the majority of whom work their fields on part-time basis. From the orchards of Nadur come most of the local fruits such as plums, peaches, apples, oranges and lemons. This produce maintained commercial contacts with Malta for over 3000 years. Today this commerce is still ongoing and a great amount of Maltese citrus is produced from Nadur. More specifically, it was recently put on record that 70% of all Maltese citrus originates from Nadur. Presently, the local council is promoting the planting of olive trees imported from Italy as these trees have consistently decreased in number over a period of years.
A good number of others earn their living from the sea as fishermen or sailors. This trade has been popular with the Nadurin at a period when the fishing methods were still primitive in our islands. As a matter of fact a number of fishermen from Nadur have lost their lives in rough seas.
Regions in Nadur
Although Nadur is spread out, it can be split in various regions, namely: a) main square area, b) Ta' Hida, c) San Blas, and d) Ta' Kenuna area.
Main square area centers basically around the parish church, with a host of shops, eateries, snack bars, and mostly residential housing. Important places of interest in the center are: Sacred Heart (Ta' Karkanja) church, Local Council office, police station, parish office, primary school, Mnarja Band Club, Nadur Youngsters football club, Museum branches (male and female), Franciscan Sisters convent & chapel, playing field (whose pitch was recently covered with artificial turf), etc.
Ta' Hida's main artery surrounds Ramla Bay main road, which is particularly very busy in summer. Ta' Hida's new extension, along Ramla Bay road, comprises a housing estate built in the 1970s, a very popular playing field, etc. A new, albeit controversial, cemetery is planned to be constructed on the way to Ramla, but building permits are still pending.
San Blas has both residential areas, relatively old and new, very fertile land and picturesque valleys, full of mainly citrus trees. San Blas takes the name after the little secluded red-sandy bay, called after bishop Blaise, whose veneration still exists in the Catholic church up to today. A nearby beach is Dahlet Qorrot (an 'inland beach'), with many locals owning caves and garages where many keep their fishing boats. Close to San Blas, one finds also a bushy arid area called il-Qortin. Gozo AFM base is located here, together with Ta' Sopu Tower, which was recently restored.
Ta' Kenuna area was developed in the early 1980s. Previously, the area was barren, except for the Ta' Kenuna Tower, a telegraph tower built under the British era, Nadur cemetery and some vinyards. Although in the past the cemetery seemed to scare off people, and no one dared to live next to it, today the cemetery has become literally a traffic island, surrounded by busy roads and residential areas.
Nadur Parish
The religious feast of Nadur – Mnarja – is celebrated on June 29 (http://www.june29th.com). The feast was very popular with honeymooners and its name seems to suggest that there is a possible connection with the beginning of Summer. It is derived from luminaria (illumination), and in fact it is a festival rooted in Maltese seasonal rituals and customs.
The beloved titular statue, that of St. Peter and St. Paul, was made in Marseilles in 1882. It is one of the many masterpieces that grace the grand church. On Good Friday a beautifully-made set of statues are taken out for the holy procession depicting the passion and crucifixion of Jesus. On the morning of Easter a statue of The Risen Lord is also joyfully paraded.
The parish church, dedicated to St. Peter and Paul, is a very artistic monument of both architecture and painting, rich in marble works and decorations, erected on the site of a former smaller church and which is also the highest point in town.
St. Peter & Paul Basilica
The construction of the present temple was begun on September 28 1760 on the design of the Maltese architect Giuseppe Bonnici (1707–1779).
In 1907 refurbishment took place to construct the aisles, dome and façade, on the Italian Renaissance design of Prof. F.S. Sciortino. The ceiling, depicting episodes connected with St. Peter and Paul, was painted by Lazzaro Pisani (both painters hailing from Haz-Zebbug), while the architectural decorations are the work of the Italian Pio Cellini. Principal force behind all these new projects was Archpriest Martin Camilleri (1910–1921).
The parish has its own community radio station.
Band Clubs
- Mnarja Band Club (L-Ghaqda Muzikali Mnarja)
Zones in Nadur
- Bingemma
- Buskett
- Dahlet Qorrot
- Gebel l-Ahmar
- Il-Qortin
- San Blas Bay
- Sejtun
- Ta' Dwardu
- Ta' Grunju
- Ta' Kenuna
- Ta' Kusbejja
- Ta' Patrik
- Ta' Sardina
- Ta' Spilotti
- Ta' Venuta
- Ta' Wistin
- Tad-Duru
- Tal-Hawli
- Tal-Lacca
- Tal-Weraq
- Tat-Tigrija
- Tax-Xewka
- Tax-Xini
- Wied San Blas
- Xurdin
Nadur Main Roads
- Pjazza San Pietru u San Pawl (St Peter and St Paul Square)
- Triq Dahlet Qorot (Dahlet Qorrot Cove Road)
- Triq Ghajn Qasab (Ghajn Qasab Street)
- Triq il-Hanaq
- Triq il-Knisja (Church Street)
- Triq ir-Rabat (Victoria Road)
- Triq ir-Ramla (Ramla Road)
- Triq it-13 ta' Dicembru (13th December Street)
- Triq it-Tigrija (Tigrija Road)
- Triq l-Imgarr (Mgarr Road)
- Triq San Blas (San Blas Bay Road)
- Triq San Gwann (St John Street)
- Triq Xandriku (Xandriku Street)
Other Streets at Nadur
- Dahlet ix-Xaghra Ta' Barbra (Xaghra Ta' Barbra Lane)
- Pjazza it-28 ta' April 1688 (28th April, 1688 Square)
- Pjazza l-Arc. Martin Camilleri (Arc. Matin Camilleri Square)
- Sqaq Kusbejja (Kusbejja Alley)
- Sqaq San Gakbu (St. Jacob Alley)
- Trejqet il-Qorti Ta' l-Uqija (Uqija's Court Path)
- Trejqet l-Andar (Andar Path)
- Trejqet Ta' Majza (Majza Path)
- Trejqet Ta' Xurdin (Ta' Xurdin Path)
- Triq Bingemma (Bingemma Road)
- Triq Cicciano (Cicciano Street)
- Triq Cimcem (Cimcem Street)
- Triq David Cocco Palmier (David Cocco Palmer Street)
- Triq Dun Anton Tabone (Fr. Anthony Tabone Street)
- Triq Dun Bernard Haber (Fr. Bernard Haber Street)
- Triq Dun Guzepp Vella (Fr. Joseph Vella Street)
- Triq Dun Gwann Camilleri (Fr. John Camilleri Street)
- Triq Dun Grezz Buttigieg (Fr. Grazzio Buttigieg Street)
- Triq Dun Karlu Zimech (Fr. Karl Zimech Street)
- Triq Dun Karm Caruana (Fr. Carmelo Caruana Street)
- Triq Frangisk Attard (Frances Attard Street)
- Triq Frangisk S.Sciortino (Frances S.Sciortino Street)
- Triq GPF Agius De Soldanis (Agius De Soldanis Street)
- Triq Guzè Bonnici (Guze Bonnici Street)
- Triq Guzè Ellul Mercer (Guze Ellul Mercer Street)
- Triq Girgor Buttigieg (Gregory Buttigieg Street)
- Triq Gregorio Caraffa (Gregory Caraffa Street)
- Triq il-Buskett (Buscetto Street)
- Triq il-Kappillan (Chaplin Street)
- Triq il-Kav. Guzè Camilleri (Cav. Guze Camilleri Street)
- Triq il-Madonna ta' Fatima (Our Lady of Fatima Street)
- Triq il-Madonna ta' Lourdes (Our Lady of Lourdes Street)
- Triq il-Mithna l-Qadima (Old Mill Street)
- Triq il-Paljijiet (Paljijiet Street)
- Triq il-Papa Ljun XIII (Pope Leo XIII Street)
- Triq il-Papa Pawlu VI (Pope Paul VI Street)
- Triq il-Qala (Qala Road)
- Triq il-Qiegha (Qiegha Street)
- Triq il-Qortin (Qortin Road)
- Triq it-Telefrafu (Telegraph Street)
- Triq it-Tigrija (Tigrija Road)
- Triq it-Torri Ta' Kenuna (Ta' Kenuna Tower Street)
- Triq it-Tramuntana (North Street)
- Triq ix-Xaghri (Xaghri Street)
- Triq iz-Zerniq (Sun Rise Street)
- Triq Karlu Borg (Karl Borg Street)
- Triq l-Arcipriet Saver Cassar (Archpriest Saver Cassar Street)
- Triq l-Emigranti (Emmigrants Street)
- Triq l-Ghassa Tal-Mahrag (Tal-Mahrag Watch Site Street)
- Triq l-Imnarja (Mnarja Feast Street)
- Triq l-Irdum ta' Vnuta (Vnuta Cliffs Street)
- Triq l-Isqof M.F. Buttigieg (Bishop Buttigieg Street)
- Triq Lazzru Pisani (Lazzarus Pisani Street)
- Triq Madre Gemma Camilleri (Madre Gemma Camilleri Street)
- Triq Mikelang Mizzi (Micheal Angel Mizzi Street)
- Triq Mro. Anton Bonnici (Mro. Anton Bonnici Street)
- Triq Piju Cellini (Pio Cellini Street)
- Triq Rakela Camilleri (Rachel Camilleri Street)
- Triq San Gakbu (St. Jacob Street)
- Triq San Gorg Preca (St. George Preca Street)
- Triq San Guzepp (St. Joseph Street)
- Triq San Kurunatu (San Kurunatu Street)
- Triq Sant' Indrija (St. Andrew Street)
- Triq Ta' Grunju (Ta' Grunju Road)
- Triq Ta' Hida (Ta' Hida Road)
- Triq Ta' Mattiju (Mattiju Street)
- Triq Ta' Said (Said Street)
- Triq Tad-Duru (Duru Road)
- Triq Tal-Hali (Tal-Hali Road)
- Triq Tat-Targa (Tat-Targa Road)
- Triq Tax-Xemmiex (Xemmiex Road)
- Triq Tax-Xini (Xini Road)
- Triq Taz-Zrajk (Zrajk Road)
- Triq Tomba (Tomba Street)
- Triq Torri Sopu (Sopu Tower Street)
- Triq Wied Bingemma (Bingemma Valley Street)
- Triq Wied ir-Rihan (Rihan Valley Street)
- Triq Xjuf ir-Rih (Xjuf ir-Rih Street)
External links
Coordinates:
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