Village of Qala (Gozo/Ghawdex Island, Malta)

Last modified: 2006-03-11 by santiago dotor
Keywords: malta | qala | gozo | ghawdex | ship: latin sails | stars: 6 points (red) | stars: 3 (red) |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

3:5
image by Dirk Schönberger, exported to GIF by António Martins, 28 October 2002

• Description

See also:

• Subnational Flags (Malta)
• Clickable map of Gozo/Ghawdex Island
• Malta

Other sites:

• Coat-of-Arms of Qala at the Local Council website

Description

Blazon: Azure a boat Or sailed Argent on a chief of the last three mullets of six points Gules.

Željko Heimer, 13 November 2002

From the Local Council website:

Qala's name means 'bay' or 'harbor' probably for the nearby harbor of Mgarr. Although other versions of the name have been proposed, the harbor theme is well reflected in the village's coat of arms. A Gozo boat sailing on rough waters, and on its motto, In Tempestate Perfugium (Haven from Storms).

Qala is well known for its hard coralline type of stone. When the breakwater of Mġarr Harbor was constructed reliance was placed on the high quality limestone quarries near Hondoq Bay. Other examples of construction with Qala's stone also include the War Memorials in Floriana and in Victoria, the Grand Harbor's breakwater in Malta, the base of Christ the King Cathedral in Liverpool and recently also the main altar in the Qala Parish church.

Santiago Dotor, 8 March 2006