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Nadur

Mayor

Edward Said

Biography

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Nadur is a town that is perched on a plateau on the eastern side of Gozo – an island in the Maltese archipelago. The name itself is a derivative of the Semitic verb nadar, which means to look out, observe or guard, hence the Latin ‘Vigilat’ which is Nadur’s motto. The plateau and its surrounding areas have been inhabited since prehistoric times.

Remains linked to human activity found in Nadur date back to around 3500 – 4000 BC. However, it was in early modern times that the inhabitants started clustering in the centre of the plateau. On 28 April 1688 Bishop Davide Cocco Palmieri established a new parish on the Nadur hill and subsequently Nadur earned its title as a new village.

Throughout the centuries, when Malta and Gozo were administered by the Order of St John, the French Republic and then the British Empire the population of Nadur increased exponentially from 410 in 1695 to 4001 inhabitants in 2016. The people of Nadur have traditionally been involved in farming, husbandry, fishing, seafaring and trade.

Nadur makes a name for itself

Nadur became famous for its top-quality citrus fruits produced in the fertile valleys of San Blas, Binġemma, Wied ir-Riħan and Daħlet Qorrot. Its people made a name in trade and seafaring during the Order of St John and the British periods.

Following World War II, when unemployment and lack of opportunities hit the islands, many Nadurins turned to emigration, reaching the four corners of the world to places, such as Australia, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe. Today, the second, third and fourth generations of these emigrants still maintain close connections with Nadur.

From its fertile valleys to its breath-taking views, Nadur is rich with natural beauty and history. Places of interest include the Collegiate Basilica of St Peter and St Paul built between 1760 and 1804.

Being enlarged in the early twentieth century, this church is truly a marvellous place to visit. There is also the Sacred Heart Church, which is few steps away from the parish church, the Sopu Tower, a coastal watch tower built between 1667 and 1680 and the Ta’ Kenuna Tower, built in 1848 for communication purposes.

Dubbed ‘the village of the rising sun’ for its position in the East side of Gozo, Nadur is a tiny gem in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea!

Source: Nadur Local Council