I parked the car on a Bus Stop to take this shot as I drove up to Gozo’s main city, Rabat, immediately we got down from the ferry. The clouds that had built up made a dramatic contrast with the sunshine on the church. Later the clouds cleared and the sun came out.
The foundation stone of the Rotunda of Xewkija was laid on 4 May 1952. It was built around the former church, itself raised on the site of a still older church. The community was, until the middle of the twentieth century, made primarily of farmers and fishermen. They had made all sorts of sacrifices to build the earlier churches. Undaunted by sacrifices, in 1952, these farmers and fishermen bound themselves to a weekly offering to raise the enormous rotunda. The dome, 75 metres high, with a diameter of 27 metres, and a circumference of 85 metres, is one of the largest in Europe. Its total weight is calculated to be around 45,000 tonnes. It was consecrated on 17 June 1978.
Many thanks for looking and for the comments and fav’s on yesterday’s picture.
Very dramatic sky against the church warm colour. A few years ago I went to Gozo on holiday and I am pleased to say that the sky was a nice bright blue during our stay. Lovely capture.
Ian
I love the dramatic sky and church!