Gnejna Bay
Encyclopedia
Ġnejna Bay is a popular tourist destination located about 1 kilometer from the village of Mġarr
on the western coast of Malta
. The beach surrounding the bay is mostly sandy. A secluded strip of shore under the steep cliff on the northern side of the bay is a popular nudist beach, although the practice is technically illegal in Malta and frowned upon by the conservative Catholic population.
Ġnejna is notable for its striking clay slopes and limestone cliffs. These serve as the headlands for one of Malta's few remaining perennial freshwater springs, that runs through Wied il-Ġnejna. Although the valley is a protected area, its watercourse is considered at risk due to illegal damming and tapping.
On 30 June 2007, a boat with 26 illegal immigrants was intercepted at Ġnejna Bay by Maltese authorities.
Juan de Lascaris-Castellar. Lippia Tower formed part of the intricate coastal defence network constructed by the Knights of St. John
. Watchguards housed in Lippia Tower and a nearby tower at Għajn Tuffieħa, would communicate with the inland Binġemma Tower by means of flags by day and bonfires by night, which would, in turn, raise the alarm in the walled city of Mdina
when corsairs were sighted off the western coast of Malta.
Ġnejna also features a WWII-era
pillbox, camouflaged to look like a typical local farmhouse.
style. According to local legend, Lucia, the only daughter of a certain Baron Bernardo Zammit, disappeared from her bedroom on the morning of her wedding to a wealthy Sicilian count
, some 300 years ago. Believing that Lucia had been abducted by corsairs, the Baron mounted an armed search of Ġnejna Bay, which proved futile. One year later, the bells of a local church started tolling unexpectedly, and a vision of the missing Lucia, clad in a nun’s habit
, appeared before the altar. She told the villagers that she had run away from home to avoid marrying the elderly Count and, having taken nun's vows, had spent the past year tending to the wounded in a foreign land until she was killed by a stray arrow.
Castello Zammitello, which was more recently the home of the noble Sant Cassia family, gained notoriety on 27 October 1988 as the site of Baron Francis Sant Cassia's murder, a crime which remains shrouded in mystery.
Mgarr
Mġarr or Imġarr, formerly known as Mgiarro, is a small town in the northwest of the mainland of Malta. Mgarr is a typical rural village situated in an isolated region, west of Mosta. It is surrounded with rich farmland and vineyards...
on the western coast of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. The beach surrounding the bay is mostly sandy. A secluded strip of shore under the steep cliff on the northern side of the bay is a popular nudist beach, although the practice is technically illegal in Malta and frowned upon by the conservative Catholic population.
Ġnejna is notable for its striking clay slopes and limestone cliffs. These serve as the headlands for one of Malta's few remaining perennial freshwater springs, that runs through Wied il-Ġnejna. Although the valley is a protected area, its watercourse is considered at risk due to illegal damming and tapping.
On 30 June 2007, a boat with 26 illegal immigrants was intercepted at Ġnejna Bay by Maltese authorities.
Fishing
Ġnejna Bay is known as a center of artisanal fishing using traditional techniques, such as attracting fish with lamps at night.Fortifications
The bay is dominated by a tall, rocky outcrop crowned by Lippia Tower (also known as Ta’ Lippia or Ġnejna Watch Tower), built in 1637 upon orders by Grand MasterGrand Master (order)
Grand Master is the typical title of the supreme head of various orders of knighthood, including various military orders, religious orders and civil orders such as the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Orange Order...
Juan de Lascaris-Castellar. Lippia Tower formed part of the intricate coastal defence network constructed by the Knights of St. John
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. Watchguards housed in Lippia Tower and a nearby tower at Għajn Tuffieħa, would communicate with the inland Binġemma Tower by means of flags by day and bonfires by night, which would, in turn, raise the alarm in the walled city of Mdina
Mdina
Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città Notabile, is the old capital of Malta. Mdina is a medieval walled town situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Punic remains uncovered beyond the city’s walls suggest the importance of the general region to Malta’s Phoenician settlers. Mdina is commonly...
when corsairs were sighted off the western coast of Malta.
Ġnejna also features a WWII-era
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
pillbox, camouflaged to look like a typical local farmhouse.
The Legend of Castello Zammitello
The road leading down towards Ġnejna Bay features Castello Zammitello, a fortified house built in the NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
style. According to local legend, Lucia, the only daughter of a certain Baron Bernardo Zammit, disappeared from her bedroom on the morning of her wedding to a wealthy Sicilian count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
, some 300 years ago. Believing that Lucia had been abducted by corsairs, the Baron mounted an armed search of Ġnejna Bay, which proved futile. One year later, the bells of a local church started tolling unexpectedly, and a vision of the missing Lucia, clad in a nun’s habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
, appeared before the altar. She told the villagers that she had run away from home to avoid marrying the elderly Count and, having taken nun's vows, had spent the past year tending to the wounded in a foreign land until she was killed by a stray arrow.
Castello Zammitello, which was more recently the home of the noble Sant Cassia family, gained notoriety on 27 October 1988 as the site of Baron Francis Sant Cassia's murder, a crime which remains shrouded in mystery.