The Sacred Heritage of Gozo
Gozo’s cemeteries are vital historical archives reflecting the island's response to population growth, parochial pride, and historical health crises. This directory provides a centralized hub for researchers, linking to detailed pages containing high-resolution photography and precise GPS mapping for every site.
Epidemic Site
Location: Outskirts of Xagħra (Għajn Lukin / Tal-Qasam area)
While Malta was recovering from the devastating 1813 plague, a sudden outbreak hit Xagħra in February 1814 via contaminated clothes. The village was completely sealed by a double military cordon. A makeshift plague hospital was set up at the Tal-Qasam farmhouse, and the 104 victims—including the heroic British army surgeon George McAdam and parish priest Dun Vincenz Cauchi—were buried in this strictly isolated field, forever known as a clausure (enclosed plague pit).
Epidemic Site
Location: Triq Tal-Infetti, Victoria (In front of St. Martha’s Church)
Literally translating to "Cemetery of the Infected," this site was established to fast-track burials during the brutal 19th-century cholera outbreaks—most notably the 1837 epidemic that claimed 368 Gozitan lives. Situated in the valley basin below the Citadel, it features a historic stone pillar carved with the souls in Purgatory, serving as a bleak marker for the mass graves beneath the soil.
Epidemic Site
Fort Chambray Quarantine Burial Site (Għajnsielem)
Location: Within the bastions of Fort Chambray
During the 19th century, parts of Fort Chambray were heavily utilized as a British barracks hospital and quarantine station. Travelers and soldiers arriving at Mġarr Harbour showing symptoms of infectious diseases were isolated here. Those who succumbed to cholera, yellow fever, or plague were buried in a dedicated, sealed cemetery plot within the fort grounds to protect the surrounding villages.
Lost / Relocated
The Medieval Citadel Cemetery (Victoria)
Location: Inside the Gran Castello (Citadel), adjacent to the Chapel of St. Barbara
Constructed originally in 1607 by Vittorio Cassar (son of the renowned architect Girolamo Cassar), this cemetery served the inhabitants who lived within the fortified walls of the Citadel. It was later used strictly for Cathedral canons, high-ranking military commanders, and priests. All burials inside the walls were permanently revoked by British sanitary ordinances in the mid-19th century, and the remains were structurally sealed or relocated to extramural grounds.
Lost / Demolished
St. Augustine Medieval Cemetery (Rabat)
Location: Rabat (Site of the modern Don Bosco Cultural Complex)
An incredibly ancient cemetery with deep medieval roots. Local tradition and historical fragments link it to the crusaders of Louis IX (St. Louis) who died of pestilence while traversing the Mediterranean in 1270. It served as the primary burial ground for Rabat's nobility and religious orders for centuries. In the 1940s, the cemetery was leveled to facilitate the construction of the Don Bosco center, though a prominent stone cross monument still marks its historic boundary line.
Isolated Site
Location: Windswept ridge near St. Mary's Tower, Comino
Though located on the tiny sister island of Comino, this site was managed under Gozo’s spiritual and civil jurisdiction. Enclosed by four low limestone walls, this tiny, forgotten military and quarantine graveyard was built to bury the island's isolated farming families, political exiles, and the soldiers stationed at the coastal tower who died far from the mainland medical facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the coordinates for Gozo cemeteries located?
Each cemetery listing above links to a dedicated page on eMalta containing verified GPS coordinates and digital mapping.
