Dar Mandraġġ

19/07/2026

This old photograph shows the titular statue of St George during one of the annual processions held in Victoria over the years.

The statue was commissioned in 1838 and carved by Valletta-born sculptor Pietru Pawl Azzopardi, before being brought to Gozo in 1839. It is regarded as the first titular statue of Gozo and helped establish the custom of having a processional statue in every village on the island.

For generations, the statue has remained central to the feast of St George, carried shoulder-high through the streets of Victoria on the third Sunday of July.

This photograph was published in Saints and Fireworks by Dr Jeremy Boissevain, published by the University of London, Athlone Press, in 1965.

11/06/2026

💒 𝐒𝐭. 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞`𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚 is one of the island’s most magnificent religious landmarks, renowned for its stunning Baroque architecture, richly decorated interior, and deep cultural significance, Victoria, Island of Gozo, Malta🇲🇹

11/06/2026

A 1910 photo by Edward Alfred Gouder of Victoria, taken from the Gozo Cittadella.

If you look closely, you can also see St Augustine’s Church and the large open space beside it. Up to that time, this site was home to a medieval cemetery, with records of its existence going back several centuries. The first known reference to it dates back to 1575, when Monsignor Pietro Dusina described it as a large cemetery, using the Latin term “magnum Coemeterium”.

On 30 May 1939, the Cathedral Chapter gave its consent for Fr Paul Micallef to build the Don Bosco Oratory on this site, and it still stands there today.

27/05/2026

23/05/2026

A building located on the corner where Triq il-Librerija meets Triq id-Dawwara in Victoria, today known as George’s Bar.

Those looking closely at the entrance may notice the raised stone sill built into the doorway. This unusual feature is linked to the 1813–1814 plague which reached the Maltese Islands.

During the outbreak, people were only allowed to leave their homes between 6am and 10am to buy essential supplies. To reduce contact, money was placed inside a bowl filled with vinegar before being handed to the shopkeeper.

The stone sill at the entrance served as a place where the bowl could be set down, while goods were passed to customers through a small opening above it.

A small architectural detail, yet one that still quietly reflects a difficult chapter in Gozo’s history.

23/05/2026

Festa San Ġorg, Victoria Gozo