Ta' Sannat

History of Sannat

Sannat was one of the first villages on the island of Gozo to become an independent parish in 1688.  The church was first consecrated in 1755 and once again in 1868 after major structural changes.  The church stands majestically in the heart of the village and is dedicated to St. Margaret the Martyr and hosts a final altarpiece by Stefano Erardi.  The village festa is celebrated every year in the third week of July. In 1951 the Duchess of Edinburgh (who later became Queen Elizabeth II) of the United Kingdom visited a house called “The Lace House” located in a small square in Ta’ Sannat called “Pjazza tax-Xelina”.

In 1551 virtually the entire population of Gozo was taken into slavery by the muslims and the wretched captives were led to an area of Ta’ Sannat and were loaded onto ships moored very close to Mgarr ix-Xini.  Gozo then had to be repopulated by people from Malta.

The archaeological remains found in and around Sannat are mostly remains of the prehistoric period and these are all concentrated in Ta’ Cenc in the limits of the same village.  Tal-Imtamma Temples are the oldest among these remains.  These remains date back to the prehistoric phase known as Mgarr phase (3800-3600 B.C.).  These remains include also a menhir (a monument-like vertical stone) and belong to a structure which could have been a temple.  The plan of this structure is very irregular and uncommon.

There are also two very important archaeological monuments at Ta’ Cenc and these are two dolmens.  One is known as Id-Dura tax-Xaghra l-Kbira and the other is known as Id-Dura tal-Mara.  These were probably used for burial purposes and are most probably two funerary structures.  They consist of three vertical stones on which rests a horizontal slab.  Dr, David Trump, the archaeologist, also discovered remains of a gallery grave which looks like an elongated dolmen.

There were previously more dolmens at Ta’ Cenc but unfortunately they did not survive.  However, these were not as old as the remains of Tal-Imramma Temple.  In fact, they belong to the Bronze Age (2500-700 B.C.) and date back to the prehistoric phase known as Tarxien Cemetery phase (2500-1500 B.C.).  One also encounters various pairs of cart ruts in various locations at Ta’ Cenc, sometimes intersecting each other.  Wherever cart ruts are found in Malta and in Gozo they are normally associated with stone/rock quarrying.  It is also very difficult to date these cart ruts.  They could possible date back to the Bronze Age although they could also have been used during the Classical (i.e. Punic and/or Roman) period.

Places of Interest in Sannat?

Ta’ Cenc Cliffs

Ta’ Cenc Cliffs form part of the village of Ta’ Sannat.  These are stunning cliffs which house numerous wildlife species and are the highest cliffs on the island of Gozo.  Ta’ Cenc which is an important ecological and geological site is the home for L-Imramma Temple.  Another interesting prehistoric remain is the dolmen.  This comprises of a large chunk supported by three smaller stones.  You can admire the breath-taking view of the deep blue Mediterranean Sea which surrounds the Maltese Archipelago from these cliffs.

Mgarr ix-Xini Bay

Ta’ Sannat village is also very well known for its beautiful green valleys including the Hanzira Valley which is a natural valley splitting Sannat from the village of Xewkija.  This valley will lead you down to a rocky beach called Mgarr ix-Xini.  This bay is an ideal spot for divers as it possesses a lot of marine life and many intriguing caves.  It is also well-known for its crystal waters and snorkelling.  The wreck of the once Gozo-Malta ferryboat ‘Xlendi’ is also located a few hundred metres away from the bay.

Mgarr ix-Xini attracts many foreign movie producers to shoot scenes for movies and in 2014 it was the location for the romantic drama movie “By the Sea” starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

Knights Watchtower

Sannat has always been considered to be a watchtower for the island.  The Knights’ Watchtower of Mgarr ix-Xini stands in Mgarr ix-Xini.  The coastal watchtower was built to safeguard the entrance to the inlet and the surroundings.  If you would like to visit the watchtower, there is a pleasant renovated pathway from the bay to the tower.

Property in Sannat

Living so close to the sea and yet having lovely countryside all around is the ideal place to live in.  Property in Sannat consists of traditional farmhouses, houses of character and terraced houses.  On the modern side, you can also opt for a modern apartment or else a penthouse.  The choice is varied and entirely depends on what type of home you are after. Sannat is one of the most beautiful villages in Gozo which is also very quiet and somewhere you can take time to relax.

Sannat Feast

On the third week in July you can take part in the local village festa which is dedicated to St Margaret the Martyr – the patron saint of Sannat. The Sannat Parish Church lies in the heart of the village core.  Although Sannat stands as a village in its own right it is also close enough to Victoria for shopping and also close to Mgarr whenever you decide to visit Gozo’s sister island, Malta.