| Santa Lucija lies to the west
of Victoria, the capital city of Gozo. It is positioned
between three hills naimly Ghar Ilma, Il- Mixta and Santa
Lucija, each of which bear a natural water spring, making
the surroundings one of the most fertile areas of Gozo.
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| It is generally agreed that the
first people to inhabit the Maltese islands were farmers
and came over from Sicily more than 5000 BC. The first
Neolitic Sicilians might have been encouraged to explore
and finally settle down on the little island across the
sea visible to the south on very clear cloudless mornings.
With them they brought stone tools, domesticated animals,
seeds and characteristic pottery. It was this pottery,
found at Il-Mixta in Santa Lucija Gozo that in recent
research was claimed to be of a purer Sentinello type
than that of any Ghar Dalam pottery. This makes the Il-Mixta
area the oldest inhabited place in the Maltese Islands. |
| Very little is known about the early medieval
history of the Maltese islands. The next encounter in
our village is a settelment of late medieval houses around
the Ghar Ilma plateau, many of which face the south overlooking
the village itself. |
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| In 1551 The island of Gozo was overrun by
Baxa’ Sinan and nearly all the population carried
in slavery. Hence in a pastoral visit in 1575 the village
church was closed down being in a state of disrepair.
But by 1598 it was reopened meaning the some, probably
farmers have escaped slavery or returned. |
| By the middle of the seventeenth century
this area known as il-Qabbieza continued to develop In
a census carried in 1667, our village, in those days known
as Santa Caterina , is documented as a major district
under which there were the smaller principalities of Dwejra,
Ghajn Abdun, Ghar Ilma, ta’ Kercem and San Lawrenz. |
| After the French occupation and the arrival
of the British, Santa Lucija saw in 1840 the building
of the enormous under ground tunnels and reservoirs under
its streets and main square. Those at Qasam San Gorg are
connected to what today remains of the aquadot. Thus Victoria,
by 1843 was supplied with water taken from the natural
springs of Ghajn Abdun and Ghar Ilma. This aquadot was
extended also to Kercem to a fountain in lower St Gregory
Street. |
| During the twentieth century Santa Lucija
developed like all other parts of the Maltese islands.
But her sons fought in both the first and second world
wars. Later many emigrated to the USA, Australia, and
Canada causing a drop in population. |
By 1959 Santa Lucija was supplied for
the first time with electricity and the modern realities
of this small village began to develop. |
| Presently, Santa Lucija is again experiencing
a growth in population, brought about by a number of people
taking up residence in the village. Moreover, it has become
a popular preference with regards to foreigners taking
up permanent residence. In fact a substantial amount of
farmhouses have been converted in luxorious residences
for both Maltese and foreign residents. |
Last update: May 2006
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