Qbajjar Bay is one of the most picturesque beaches on the island of
Gozo. Unlike other beaches on the island, it is not framed by
impressive cliffs or terraced fields. Its charm lies in the simple yet
impressive view it offers, namely that of the clear blue Mediterranean
Sea. It does not come as a surprise that our forefathers named this bay
Mewġ il-Baħar, meaning “the ocean waves”.
It was either towards the end of the nineteenth century or the
beginning of the twentieth century that, after the discovery and
excavation of several graves in the vicinity of the beach, the area
started to be called Qbajjar, meaning a small grave. Several burial
places are marked on old surveying maps of the region. These are
located on the stretch of land that leads from Wied il-Qbajjar to the
bay.
Il-Qolla s-Safra
The distinctive hillocks of Qolla s-Safra and Qolla l-Bajda are a Gozitan
geological oddity where the Franka stone – formed in a conical shape
- is directly under the layer of the Upper Coralline. This means that
both the clay and green sand layers are completely missing.
In 1879, Andrew Leith Adams found fossilized teeth of a seal near the
hillock while H. Lewis in his book Ancient Malta – a Study of Its
Antiquities (1977) alludes to a small catacomb that was found in the
vicinity of Il-Qolla s-Safra.
Slowly slowly, the nearby apartment blocks are having a toll on the
natural beauty of the hillock. There is danger that in the future, this
gem will be entirely surrounded by concrete blocks and Qbajjar Bay
will continue to lose its charm.
Photo credits: Leo Cefai, JJZammit
Research: Mario Cassar
Copyright: Soċjeta’ Banda Santa and Żebbuġ Gozo Local Council
