Golden Fields & Quiet Villages | A Peaceful Ride Across Gozo

Today’s mountain bike ride is a little different — a mix of countryside calm and village charm. We begin off-road, passing through old farming trails in Xagħra and passing through golden hay fields, then transition into village roads, weaving past some of Gozo’s most historic churches.

☀️ Filmed on a clear, warm June afternoon, this short ride captures the seasonal shift — dry fields, deep blue skies, and Gozo’s baroque architecture basking in the light.

🚵‍♂️ Ride Overview
• Start: Xagħra countryside, descending via Ta’ San Marzjan
• Prickly pear trails & hay fields near Nuffara Hill
• Transition to roads at Ta’ Ħamet, then through Għajnsielem, Qala, and Nadur

🕍 Notable Landmarks Along the Way
• Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, known by locals as Ta’ Ħamet – Built in 1835 by Liberat Grech, a key figure in Gozo’s resistance against the French occupation. Ta’ Ħamet is named after an Arab farmer ("Ahmed") said to have once owned the land.
• Church of Our Lady of Loreto (Għajnsielem) – Begun in 1924 and completed in 1978, this Latin-cross Gothic-Lombard style church saw four different architects and two accidents during construction.
• Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem (Ta’ Passi) – A man-made nativity village built in 2008 that transforms into a living Christmas village each December.
• St. Anthony of Padua Church – Built by the Franciscan Friars Minor in 1906, a quiet gem in the Għajnsielem area.
• St. Joseph Church (Qala) – Constructed between 1882–1889, a baroque design by the same architect-priest who built Għasri’s church.
• St. Peter & St. Paul Basilica (Nadur) – Parish since 1688. Built by architect Giuseppe Bonnici of the Order of St. John. Also holds relics of St. Coronato, a 3rd–4th century martyr.

🚴‍♂️ Shot on my Trek Procaliber 9.7 MTB
📷 Camera: Insta360 X4
☀️ Recorded on a clear June afternoon
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If you’ve walked through any of these squares, or have stories tied to these churches or areas — I’d love to hear them.

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🎬 Ride Highlights

00:00 - Xagħra
00:20 - Heading to the countryside
00:57 - Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Ta’ Ħamet)
01:13 - Church of Our Lady of Loreto, Għajnsielem
01:30 - Bethlehem (Christmas village), Għajnsielem
01:59 - Church of St. Anthony of Padova, Għajnsielem
02:08 - Church of St. Joseph, Qala
02:22 - Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul, Nadur


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