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Munxar or Il-Munxar is a village which lies on the southern side of Gozo Island, Malta, close to the village of Sannat. It has its own local village council. Munxar population is 1,019 persons (Nov 2005). The name Munxar is from the Maltese language, the English translation is "bucksaw" the teeth of the saw are represented in the village flag. Close by to this village, there is Xlendi Bay, a popular tourist resort engulfed in a fjord like inlet amongst high cliffs. Xlendi bay is a small fishing village, but is also an ideal bathing and diving resort especially in summer. Otherwise foreigners and locals could gaze spell bound admiring late spring and early autumn sunsets that adorn the waters with gilded streaks described only by poets and often captured by artists or keen photographers. The parish church, a small baroque temple built from the typical Maltese stone, is dedicated to St. Paul. It was built between 1914 and 1925 and was consecrated on 18 October 1925. Bishop Joseph Pace established it as a parish church on 12 December 1957. As a result, Munxar was the last village in Gozo to become an autonomous parish. The feast officially falls on the 10th of February which is also a national public holiday; however the outside festivities are celebrated on the third Sunday of each May. One of the people of note to have been born and lived in this village is Professor Joseph Aquilina.
HistoryThe first records that were found recording Munxar as an area dates back to the sixteenth century when this village/area was named monxiar which means a bucksaw and which took its name from the two vallyies running parallel from the village. From a sixteenth century census the village had a population of around 200 inhabitants. The first surnames recorded in the census were Attard, Barberi,Hagius, among a few others which result that these were the first munxarin. In that time monxiar and xlendi were part of the village of Sannat. An interesting fact is that in that time the population of Xlendi was only 8 persons, who were the tower guardian and his family who lived in xlendi tower. Remains of a megalithic temple were found in limits of ta Marziena and also roman remains were found in Xlendi valley. Geographically munxar has always formed part of the neighbouring village of sannat. People of Munxar attended their spiritual needs at Saint margret parish's at sannat, however historical facts and documented evidence points the existence of other three chapels, now completly demolished. late in the ninteenth century the present parish priest of Sannat noticed the need for a small chapel for the spiritual need of the Munxarin, so a chapel was constructed in the site where the parish church now stands. By the following years the chapel beacame small since the village grew, and the rector of the chapel presented a petition to build a church to the bishop. The building of a new church was approved by the curia and in 2 February 1914 construction of a new chruch began on a site donated by two brothers and a sister known as 'Ta Katalla', the church was finished on 19 February 1921. the church was dedicated to Saint paul and later a statue of saint paul was made by Wistin Camilleri in 1933. Munxar church was made parich on its own rights on 12 December 1957, so that the munxarin had fulfilled their dream Zones in Munxar
Munxar Main Roads
Other Streets at Munxar
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