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ST.GEORGE BASILICA - VICTORIA
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St. George's Basilica is situated in the middle of the capital Victoria and is surrounded by a maze of charming old narrow streets and alleys. The basilica was built between 1672 and 1678.
The parish originated in medieval times, definitely before 1450, when it is recorded functioning as a parish church. The foundation stone of the present church was laid on 7 August 1672 and it was consecrated on 21 September 1755. On 6 September 1958, the church was bestowed the title of Basilica and on 8 December 1976 it became an Archipresbyteral and Collegiate Church aggregated to the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint John Lateran of Rome.
This parish church is rightly referred to as the marble basilica as it is entirely covered with marble.The bronze and gold guilded canopy over the high altar is indeed impressive, but the main attraction is a statue of the patron saint, St. George, sculpted in wood by Pawlu Azzopardi in 1838. It is the first titular statue acquired by a parish church in Gozo.
All paintings in the dome and ceiling are by Giovanni Battista Conti of Rome. Mattia Preti, Giuseppe Cali, Michele Busuttil, Giuseppe Fenech, Francesco Zahra, Fortunato Venuti, Injazju Cortis, Ramiro Cali', Filippo Cosimo, Giuseppe D'Arena, Salvatore Bondi' Roberto Dingli and Stefano Erardi are other famous artists whose works can be admired in the Basilica. The liturgical feast of St. George Martyr falls on the 23 of April, but outside festivities are celebtrated with great pomp around the 2nd week of July.
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USEFUL INFORMATION
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How to go: On foot from Victoria centre.
Other Attractions: The old streets of Victoria around the church, Independence Square with the Banca Giuratale (presently Victoria's Townhall)
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