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Pjazza tad-Dehra
 

The Pjazza tad-Dehra at the end of Wied Simirat is the heart of Ghajnsielem both geographically and historically. It was in this square that 'Ghajn Salem', the spring that gave its name to the village used to flow. It was next to this spring that one of the first Ghajnsilmizi received a heavily message.

Anglu Grech, a farmer nicknamed 'Tax-Xini' who lived in the vicinity, used to take his sheep and goats to the spring every day. While the flock quenched its thirst, he sought shade under a carob tree (Harruba) and often knelt down in prayer. One day, he beheld a vision just across the spring. A beautiful lady dressed immaculately white invited him to raise a statue in her honour on a lip of land close by. He understood. A shrine would enhance his prayers and encourage fellow farmers to raise their minds to God.  

Anglu lost now time. He shared the message with his farmer friends and in a matter of weeks they constructed a stone plinth, sculpted a large statue of the Blessed Virgin of Loreto, and raised into its top. At the time there was still no chapel in the vicinity, so every evening the farmers and their families fathered around the statue to recite the Holy Rosary. After the statue was placed in niche, people used to gather around it to recite the Rosary.

The year in which these events took place is not know. However the oral tradition was very strong and was supported by interviews carried out by the first parish priest of Ghajnsielem with persons from Nadur. The presence of the niche induced the Nadur Parish priest to organise an annual procession on the day of the apparition. On that occasion, the parish priest accompanied by the clergy of Nadur would sing vespers and deliver a homily. In 1810, the people began to raise a small chapel close by.

Photo taken during the beginning of 20th century showing the Wash-House

In 1710, through the interest of Grandmaster Ramon Perellos, the spring was enclosed within a small wash-house - access to which was from under two arches. The present Pjazza tad-Dehra began to take shape in 1865 when a bridge was built over the end of Wied Simirat. In 1911, Triq Simirat was joined to Triq fuq il-Ghajn by the building of a new street. Before long, this bacame known as the Apparition Square. In 1954, so as to furthur enlarge the piazza, it was decided, unbelievably but true, to demolish the historic wash-house and entomb the spring that gave its name to the village. Gone the spring may be, but it lives on in the name of the thriving community which proudly bears its name.

'Hain Salem' and the Wash-House during a 19th Century drawing

The Apparition Monument

This vision was immortalized in a monument erected by the Ghajnsielem Local Council. This monument has given Pjazza tad-Dehra, at the heart of the locality, a completely new look. The local council embarked on the project, in January 1996 and financed the work, with the help from the government who allocated Lm10,000 under special fund scheme.

Works division personnel assigned to the council carried out the initial work on the project. A large limestone fountain was constructed ad Mr. Emanuel Saliba from Ghajnsielem carried out the stonework. Other innovations include colored, patterned concrete for the elevated pedestrians area and the street furniture was used to embellish the square.

The monument, by sculpture Michael Camilleri Cauchi features a statue depicting the apparition of a lady to Anglu Grech, a shepherd from Ghajnsielem, who every day used to take his sheep to drink water from a spring at this place. This lady asked that the statue of our lady of Loreto be erected neat this area. The parish owes its origin to the story of the apparition. The monument was designed by architect David Mallia and was inaugurated on the 18th January 1998.

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