Our Lady of Lourdes Church - Għajnsielem, Gozo - Gothic Spire Beneath a Gathering of Birds

Our Lady of Lourdes Church above Mġarr Harbour, with a flock of birds sweeping around its tall Gothic Revival clock tower beneath a dramatic sky.

This photograph shows the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes at Għajnsielem on the island of Gozo, its Gothic Revival architecture silhouetted against a dramatic cloud-filled sky. A tall clock tower and slender spire dominate the building, while pointed arches, pinnacles and steeply pitched architectural elements emphasize its Gothic character. A large flock of birds circling around the tower adds movement to the scene and accentuates the church’s striking vertical profile. Standing on the heights overlooking Mġarr Harbour, the church is a prominent landmark for travellers approaching Gozo by sea. Designed by Maltese architect Emmanuel Galizia, construction began in 1888 on a rocky site whose surroundings were considered reminiscent of Lourdes in France. The completed church was blessed on 3 July 1892, and devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes was further strengthened the following year when a statue of the Virgin was placed within a natural grotto beneath the church. Its elevated position and distinctive Gothic Revival architecture make the church one of the most recognizable religious landmarks around Mġarr Harbour.