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Malta: Day 15: Biking around Salt Pans, Dwejra and Ras il-Wardija

Fungus Rock, just off the coast of Dwejra, is known for having grown a rare plant - known as general’s root – which was touted by the Knights of Malta (who ruled the island from 1530 to 1798) as a cure for ailments including dysentery and impotence. Well, there is no proof that the Cynomorium helps in any way, still Nada and me decided to cycle around Dwejra area.

Previous days of our trip to Malta: Day 14, Day 13, Day 12, Day 11, Day 10, Day 9, Day 8, Day 7, Day 6, Day 5, Day 4, Day 3, Day 2 and Day 1.

Breakfast of the champions in Marsalforn

We rented the mountain bikes and started our cycling trip in Marsalforn

Nicky Farrugia landed here on 28.7.1985, while he swam from Sicily to Gozo. He needed 30 hours and 17 minutes.

Salt pans

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu from one of the stations of the cross

 

The Stations of the Cross represent Jesus's painful journey to His crucifixion at Ta' Pinu Marian Centre, a symbolic path was marked out around the hill, starting near the monument of Our Lady and ending near the chapel.

View from the top of the Ta’ Għammar hill

Large amphitheater on top of the hill

In 1883 a woman from the village of Għarb, Karmni Grima, heard the voice of Our Lady at the small chapel that then occupied this site. It rapidly became a centre of pilgrimage and the number of visitors soon overwhelmed the little church. Today’s monumental shrine to Our Lady of Ta' Pinu was built between 1920 and 1931. It is an architectural masterpiece, especially inside with its superb sculptures and craftsmanship in Maltese stone. The sanctuary was constructed in front of the original chapel. The chapel remains in tact behind the altar and still contains the painting of the Assumption to Heaven of Our Lady from which the voice is said to have spoken to Karmni Grima.

Pope John Paul II celebrated mass on the parvise of the shrine during his visit to the island of Gozo on 26 May 1990.

Village Għarb (means West in Arabic)

 

L-Għarb is the second oldest village parish in Gozo, established in 1679.

Riding in rural areas

 

From San Dimitri Chapel (the only church in Malta dedicated to this Greek saint) with a very interesting legend, we moved on to San Lawrenz

Towards Dwejra Bay

Fun on the way down

 

Azure Window collapsed in stormy weather on 8 March 2017.

Inland Sea, sometimes called Qawra, is a lagoon of seawater linked to the Mediterranean Sea through an opening formed by a narrow natural arch.

Torri tad-Dwejra was completed in 1652, and is one of the Lascaris towers.

Located not far off from the narrow road leading to the inland sea. It was built at high grounds overlooking the surrounding area to guard this strategic location very prone to pirate landings many hundred years ago. The watch tower although small but built on a vintage high point could communicate with other towers and fortifications with fire during the night and smoke during the day. After 1746 the tower was used to guard the Fungus Rock.

Since the tower is open to the public, we visited it

The famous Fungus Rock. Grand Master Pinto decreed the Rock out of bounds in 1746. Trespassers risked a three-year spell as oarsmen in the Knights' galleys. He posted a permanent guard there and even built a precarious cable-car basket from the rock to the mainland, 50 metres away. He also ordered the sides smoothed to remove handholds.

Great place for easy riding

Nice single trails along the shore

Windy weather didn't bother us

Along the cliff

View through the bike

Through Globigerina Limestone

Alone on the tracks

 

High above the sea

Ras il-Wardija contains the remains of a Punic-Roman sanctuary, which was excavated by Italian archaeologists in the 1960s.

 

Cameras in action

Returning back home

 

Animals in local pond

Ride on Gozo #1

GeoCaches found (all received a visit by trackable items "Bryan 2014 Tag", TB6PQA1, "008 Groundspeak Volunteer Geocoin - sponsored by GC-KNECHT", TB20DYH, "Proving Trail Geocoin", TB2GZV8, "Travel Bug Dog Tag", TB6D3XP, "Key chain #2 Happy Face", TB6R4PD, "gran san bernardo", TB84C9J, "De reiziger", TB6R4VV and "FarmtagZ klompendans", TB6BAG2, until one was dropped off):
- Salt Pans from Zebbug and Marsalforn, EarthCache, GC5MXE1
- on the way.., GC56JME
- 14 Stations & 14 Churches, GC3NY9Y, where I placed trackable item "Travel Bug Dog Tag", TB6D3XP
- Altared Images, GC1NG8B
- G.P.S. III NORTH COAST WALK - San Dimitri Chapel, GC5J2XM
- CART RUTS OF DWEJRA, GC63F12
- Azura Coast, GC61VJR
- The DWEJRA - GOZO, EarthCache, GC3XFYV
- Dwejra - Dín I-Art Helwa, GC63KDY
- Ghadira Ta' San Raflu, GC43BCP