Wayside Chapels - Our Lady of Victories

This chapel is situated in the picturesque village of Mtahleb (pronounced Imtahleb), one of the most unspoilt areas on the island. It is situated on the edge of a cliff. Beneath it lie slopes of fertile fields and the deep blue sea. It is one of our favourite picnic spots. The silence is broken only by the twittering of birds or by a farmer tilling his fields. The village is sparsely populated, mostly made up of a farming community. Up to about 50 years ago, the numerous caves that dot the cliffs were used by the farmers as shelters for their animals. It is a peaceful place. A place where time has almost stood still. Thankfully, it has, up to now, remained out of the clutches of greedy developers. I hope that things won’t change any time soon. I look forward to the winter months to go and picnic in the surrounding green fields and relish the sound of silence.

Historical Note
The current chapel of Our Lady of Victories was built in 1656. It is known as a juspatronatus, that is, the noble family that owned the surrounding land had the right to nominate the parish priest, or rector, who would look after the church. This privilege was held by the D’Amico Inguanez family of Mdina (Imdina). The titular painting was done by Pereira.