Kercem on Gozo: Churches, History and Landscape
Accommodation in Kercem
Kerċem brings together ecclesiastical architecture, archaeological remains and landscape. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Kercem, churches, feast dates, archaeological traces and landscape connections can help you explore Kerċem according to your travel interests. The themes range from a church built into a cave to a viewpoint and a route for hikers and cyclists.
Churches and archaeological layers
The Chapel of the Annunciation, also known as Lunzjata Chapel, is a small Roman Catholic church built into a cave in the Il-Lunzjata Valley. Għar Gerduf is located at Wied Lunzjata within Kerċem and is a Roman burial site dating from the 3rd or 4th century. Għar Gerduf is also the only late Roman and Byzantine catacomb on Gozo whose exact location is known and which is still visible.
The parish church of Ta’ Kerċem is the only church on Gozo dedicated jointly to two saints. It was enlarged between 1906 and 1910. Its main altarpiece, painted by Salvatore Busuttil in 1854, depicts Saint Gregory interceding with the Virgin on behalf of those affected by the plague. The parish church thus brings together a later enlargement and an older painting: its architectural history and sacred art offer different ways to discover this place.
Santa Luċija is officially part of Ta’ Kerċem and has a rustic church square. The church was first mentioned in 1575, rebuilt from the ground up in the 1790s and extended in 1950. Its history therefore includes an early mention and two later building phases.
An even earlier archaeological layer can be found at Tal-Mixta, where remains from the Għar Dalam phase, dating from 5000 to 4500 BC, were discovered. By comparison, Għar Gerduf dates from the 3rd or 4th century. These sites therefore represent archaeological periods in Kerċem that are widely separated in time.
Feasts throughout the year
The feast of Saint Gregory the Great is celebrated in Kerċem every year on the second weekend of March. The feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help takes place every year on the second weekend of July; the exact calendar dates vary from year to year. The feast of Saint Luċija is celebrated on the Sunday closest to 13 December.
Kerċem’s annual Għadira feast features traditional music, food and drink, pony rides and competitions in the countryside around San Rafflu. Dates and programme may vary. If a feast is the reason for your trip, check the specific details for the relevant year before setting your travel dates.
Valleys, viewpoints and routes
The road running parallel to the church leads to Ta’ Klula. From there, you can enjoy views of Xlendi Bay and its cliffs. Wied il-Lunzjata also has an ecological dimension, with unique habitats and micro-ecosystems.
From Kerċem, hikers and cyclists can reach Dwejra Bay. This is a different landscape connection from the view at Ta’ Klula: there, the focus is on Xlendi Bay and its cliffs, while the route to Dwejra Bay is specifically for hikers and cyclists. This distinction helps you keep the two landscape connections clear when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: St. Julians, Pembroke, Mdina, Żebbuġ, Xaghra, Mosta, Rabat, Luqa
For the main travel overview: Malta.
