A swift ten-minute walk southwest of the capital ir-Rabat takes you to the outskirts of the tiny Gozitan village of il-Munxar. Wedged between the sloping sides of two parallel valleys, Il-Munxar offers some of the most beautiful landscapes in Gozo. The name il-Munxar is old Maltese meaning ‘bucksaw’. The name probably originates from the spectacular view of zigzaged cliffs seen from the Bardan Heights nearby.
The village name is first recorded as ‘il monxar’ in a notarial deed in 1584. It was then just a few families, and even now Il-Munxar is a small close-knit community.
Il-Munxar’s most famous son is Professor Joseph Aquilina – a name synonymous with the study of the Maltese language. Born in il-Munxar on April 7, 1911, Professor Aquilina studied in London before becoming Dean of the Faculty of Arts of Malta University. Author of numerous works of fiction, criticism, drama, linguistics and religion, he is probably most famous for his monumental ‘Maltese-English Dictionary’.
Il-Munxar’s parish church is a small baroque-style temple built from typical Maltese stone and dedicated to St. Paul. It was built between 1914 and 1925. Il-Munxar became an autonomous parish in December 1957, the last village in Gozo to gain this status. The feast day of St Paul officially falls on the 10th of February which is also a national public holiday; however, the festa here is celebrated when the weather is better on the third Sunday of May. The church is found in one of Gozo's biggest squares, which is an entry point to 25m World War II shelters that were dug done by the labourers within the then Public Works Department, in 1942, under the supervision of architect Guzeppi Savona.
Il-Munxar is renowned for its numerous cultural events, both within the village and in the nearby tourist hotspot of Xlendi. Nestled in a fjord-like inlet between towering cliffs, Xlendi is a popular tourist destination that falls under the jurisdiction of the Munxar Local Council. Another highlight of Munxar is the Sanap Cliffs, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. From here, a scenic trail leads to Xlendi Bay, making it a favourite spot for both locals and visitors.