Għasri

Għasri (Maltese: L-Għasri) is a village in the western part of Gozo, Malta, with a population of 525 people (as of March 2014).[1] By population, it is the smallest village in Gozo after San Lawrenz, and the third-smallest in the Maltese Islands, after Bidnija and Mdina. Għasri, however, has a relatively large area.

Għasri L-Għasri
Local council
Għasri as seen from the Cittadella
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Ex labore fructus
Coordinates: 36°3′30″N 14°13′40″E
Country	Malta
Region	Gozo Region
District	Gozo and Comino District
Borders	Għarb, Kerċem, Victoria, Żebbuġ
Government
• Mayor	Daniel Attard (PN)
Area
• Total	5 km2 (2 sq mi)
Population  (Jan. 2019)
• Total	424
• Density	85/km2 (220/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Għasri (m), Għasrija (f), Għasrin (pl)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	GSR
Dialing code	356
ISO 3166 code	MT-16
Patron saint	Corpus Christi
Day of festa	June
Website	Official website

The village lies between the hills of Żebbuġ and Għammar. The name has Arabic origins and refers to the period of the day in between the afternoon and the evening. Għasri is reached by forking right on the Victoria-Għarb road just after the Aqueduct.

A lighthouse on Ġurdan hill, better known as the Giordan Lighthouse dominates Għasri. The famous lighthouse rises 180 metres above sea level and was inaugurated in 1853. Its beam can be seen up to 50 kilometres away. Upon the hill around the lighthouse there are some marvellous 360-degree views of Gozo and this lures many hikers, who ascend the steep path to the hilltop.

A view of the Gurdan Lighthouse.

From the Village Square, a road leads to the fabulous valley of Wied il-Għasri. On the way, there are a number of typical farmhouses, most of them available for short or long lets, as well as an old charming chapel dedicated to the Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Wied il-Għasri area is a marvelous country walk or cycling site especially in Winter and Spring. The valley ends in the sea, wedged between high cliffs where a secluded little inlet makes it ideal for swimming, snorkelling and diving. Indeed, the sea around Wied il-Għasri is very popular among divers. In Għasri valley one can find some saltpans.

The village church, designed by a local priest, Dun Ġużepp Diacono, was built early in the twentieth century. Its foundation stone was laid on 6 September 1903 and it was dedicated to the Corpus Christi, otherwise known as Christ the Saviour in the Eucharist on 9 January 1916. The village was established a parish by Bishop Giovanni Maria Camilleri on 16 December 1921.