Ta’ Pinu Basilica - Għarb, Gozo - Romanesque Façade and Soaring Bell Tower

The imposing limestone façade, rose window and soaring bell tower of Ta’ Pinu Basilica stand beneath a clear blue sky in the Gozitan countryside.

This photograph presents a clear exterior view of Ta’ Pinu Basilica near Għarb on the island of Gozo. The warm limestone façade is dominated by its round-arched entrance and prominent rose window, while the tall bell tower rises dramatically beside the main church and the dome appears behind the roofline. A statue in the foreground completes the view of one of Gozo’s most recognizable religious landmarks. The present sanctuary was designed by Maltese architect Andrea Vassallo in a Romanesque Revival style, with architectural influences recalling the Romanesque churches of northern Italy. Construction began in 1920 following the remarkable growth of devotion to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu after Karmni Grima reported hearing a mysterious voice from the earlier chapel in 1883. The new sanctuary was blessed and opened to the public in 1932, while the imposing bell tower was completed in 1934. In 1935 Pope Pius XI elevated the sanctuary to the dignity of a Minor Basilica. The much older chapel was preserved within the new complex, maintaining the historic heart of this important Marian pilgrimage site.