Fontana, Gozo

Fontana
Il-Fontana
It-Triq tal-Għajn
Local council

View of Fontana parish church

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: Indundatione Ferax
(Fertile through Inundation)
Coordinates: 36°02′11″N 14°14′32″E / 36.03639°N 14.24222°E / 36.03639; 14.24222Coordinates: 36°02′11″N 14°14′32″E / 36.03639°N 14.24222°E / 36.03639; 14.24222
Country  Malta
Region Gozo Region
District Gozo and Comino District
Borders Kerċem, Munxar, Victoria, Xewkija
Government
 • Mayor Saviour Borg (PN)
Area
 • Total 0.5 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
Population (March 2014)
 • Total 985
 • Density 2,000/km2 (5,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Fontani (m), Fontanija (f), Fontanin (pl)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code FNT
Dialing code 356
ISO 3166 code MT-10
Patron saint Sacred Heart of Jesus
Day of festa 2nd or 3rd Sunday of June
Website Official website

Fontana (Maltese: Il-Fontana) is a village on the island of Gozo, Malta, with a population of 985 people (as of March 2014).[1]

Fontana originated from the suburb of Victoria on the Rabat-Xlendi road. Its local name is "It-Triq tal-Għajn", (the way to the spring), and it took its name from a spring at the bottom of the road leading to Xlendi, known locally as "l-Għajn il-Kbira", (the big spring). Fontana is the Italian word for a spring.

On the lower part of Fontana, on the right-hand side of the road to Xlendi, one cannot help but notice the evergreen Lunzjata Valley going up to the village of Kerċem. Local farmers are busy around all year long in this fertile part of Gozo.

The People

Most of the fishermen that operated from the fishing village of Xlendi lived in Fontana. Also, some other people used to go hunting in the adjacent Lunzjata Valley. Later in the nineteenth century, they began setting aside part of the proceeds from their catches to construct a church.

Zones in Fontana

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fontana

The foundation stone of the church was laid on 29 January 1893. The church was consecrated twelve years to that day on 29 January 1905, and was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The church was established as the parish of Fontana on 27 March 1911 under Bishop Giovanni Maria Camilleri. The spectacular village feast is celebrated each year around the 2nd and 3rd week of June. The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fontana is also a parish church, and considered to be a national sanctuary of the Sacred Heart.

L-Għajn il-Kbira - The Big Spring

At times, people can still be found washing their clothes at the Fontana spring.

Arched shelters were built in the sixteenth century over the springs for the convenience of people when washing their clothes. A very old irrigation system made up from stone gutters constantly brings water from a spring situated in the Kerċem part of the valley.[2]

Shelters

Shelters were built beside the Springs. This was useful for the Fontanin to go for shelter when there were raids during World War II. This shelter started at the Springs and ended on a cliff overlooking Fontana.

Administration of the Local Council

References

  1. ↑ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "L-Għajn li tatna isimha" (in Maltese). Parroċċa Qalb ta' Ġesù - Fontana. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016.
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