Exploring Xewkija探索绍基亚

Located right between Victoria and Għajnsielem， Xewkija is the oldest settlement in Malta’s sister island， Gozo. The village’s name is derived from the term “xewk” which denotes “thorns” or “thistles”. On November 27，1678， Xewkija became the first Gozitan village outside of Victoria to become parish. It also became the first “contrada1” area to be referred to as a “casale2” or “hamlet”.

绍基亚位于维多利亚和艾因西莱姆之间，是马耳他的姐妹岛屿戈佐岛上最古老的聚落。这座村庄的名字来自xewk一词，含义为“荆棘”或“蓟草”。1678年11月27日，绍基亚成了维多利亚城之外第一个成为教区的戈佐村庄。它也是岛上第一个被称为“村庄”的地区。

The Rotunda of Xewkija， a church honouring St. John the Baptist， is undeniably the most acclaimed structure in Xewkija. It was constructed from Maltese stone3 by local masons and craftsmen， and it served as the headquarters of the Knights of the Order of St. John. Interestingly， it is the biggest church in Gozo， and the settlement is dominated by its dome. Designed by Ġużè Damato， the current Rotunda replaced an older church whose priceless masonry is currently on display at the Rotunda’s Art Museum. Pietro Paolo Azzopardi created the wooden figure of Saint John the Baptist that bears his name in 1845.

绍基亚的穹顶教堂是为纪念施洗者圣约翰而建造的，无疑是绍基亚最有名的建筑。它由当地的石匠和手工匠人用马耳他石材建造，曾是圣约翰骑士团的总部。有趣的是，它是戈佐岛上最大的教堂，其穹顶俯瞰着整个村落。现在的穹顶教堂由古泽·达马托设计，已经取代了老教堂。目前，老教堂珍贵的石刻在穹顶教堂的艺术博物馆展出。彼得罗·保罗·阿佐帕尔迪在1845年创作了施洗约翰的同名木雕。

16th-century historian Gann-Frangisk Abela noted that the area of Xew-kija has been inhabited since the very early times. This hypothesis is mainly based on a prehistoric temple at Xewkija. Trial excavations conducted in the meadows east of the parish church in 1904 continued to confirm this hypothesis. The region of Xewkija has been occupied since the Neolithic period. Malta and Gozo were settled by the Phoenicians in 700 BC， and afterwards by the Carthaginians. Punic4 artefacts have been found within the limits of Xewkija.

16世纪的历史学家甘恩-弗朗吉斯科·阿贝拉认为，绍基亚地区很早便有人类居住。这一推测的主要依据是绍基亚的一座史前神庙。1904年在教区教堂东侧草地上进行的试掘进一步证实了这一推测。绍基亚地区自新石器时代便有人类居住。公元前700年，腓尼基人在马耳他和戈佐岛定居，此后迦太基人也在此安家。在绍基亚地区还发现了布匿人的文物。

The Majmuna Stone with its Arabic inscription was discovered in this quaint town. It honours Maymnah， a young Arab woman who passed away in 1174， nearly a century after the Norman invasion of Malta in 1091. It is believed that Islam was the nation’s dominant religion before 1224. On the underside of the massive marble slab where the text is etched， there is a Roman sign. It was first translated into Italian by Brother Gabrijel D’Alappo， and then into Maltese. It has now been transferred to the Gozo Museum of Archaeology.

在这个古朴的小镇上还发现了刻有阿拉伯文的迈穆娜石。这块石板是为了纪念年轻的阿拉伯女性迈穆娜，她于1174年去世，距离1091年诺曼人入侵马耳他将近一个世纪了。人们认为，1224年之前，伊斯兰教是这个国家的主要宗教。在刻有文字的巨型大理石板底端，有一个罗马标志。石板先是被加布里耶尔·达拉波修士翻译成意大利语，然后又被翻译成马耳他语。现在它已被转移到戈佐考古博物馆。

The feast of St. John the Baptist is celebrated on the last Sunday of June. At around noon， the marching band performs throughout Xewkija’s main thoroughfares， often followed by a musically timed fireworks show.

6月的最后一个星期天是施洗约翰节。中午时分，游行乐队会在整个绍基亚的主要大街上进行表演，之后往往还会有一场音乐烟花演出。

Some of the top Maltese stone masons from Gozo come from Xewkija. They are also renowned for their fishing prowess， and the fishermen of Xewkija have preserved the expertise of creating conventional cane fish traps.

戈佐岛的一些顶级马耳他石石匠都来自绍基亚。绍基亚人的捕鱼能力也赫赫有名，当地渔民们仍保留着制作传统藤条捕鱼笼的手艺。

The coat of arms of Xewkija has a crimson horizontal strip between two thorns， one above and one below， on a gold backdrop. Xewkija’s motto is “Nemo me impune lacessit”， or “No one shall assault me with impunity.”.

绍基亚的纹章以金色为背景，中间是一条深红色的横条，两根荆棘分别位于横条的上下两侧。绍基亚的格言是“凡伤我者，必遭惩罚”。

Things to see and do in Xewkija

绍基亚必去景点

·  Xewkija Rotunda

·  绍基亚穹顶教堂

The Rotunda， which has the third biggest unsupported dome in the world and is 28 metres in circumference and 75 metres in height， was constructed in the 20th century to honour St. John the Baptist. The enchanting dome is supported by eight concrete columns that are housed inside the striking white limestone building. The interior displays both the versatility and texture of local limestone as well as the skill of local artisans. The floor is polished Carrara5 marble， and the great altar is similarly sculpted from precious marble.

绍基亚穹顶教堂是在20世纪为纪念施洗约翰而建造的。穹顶周长28米、高75米，是世界上第三大无支撑穹顶。美轮美奂的穹顶由8根混凝土立柱架起，这些立柱被安置在醒目的白色石灰岩建筑内。内部设计既展示了当地石灰岩的多种用途和质地，也彰显了当地工匠的高超技艺。地板是抛光的卡拉拉大理石，大祭坛同样由珍贵的大理石雕刻而成。

·  Windmill

·  风车

As one approaches the town， the remnants of a windmill from the Knights’ era that Grand Master Perellos had built may be spotted. This mill stands out from the others in Gozo due to its octagonal ground floor， which depicts the eight primary wind directions. Two parallel chambers and a spacious entry hall may be found in the windmill. In the middle of the structure is a spiral staircase going to the mill roof. Upstairs in the foyer is where the birth chamber is situated. The windmill was still in operation up until 1886.

人们走近小镇时，可以看到由骑士团大首领佩雷洛斯建造的风车，这是自骑士时代留传至今的遗迹。这座风车使戈佐岛的其他风车相形见绌，因为它的底层是八角形的，描绘了八个主要风向。风车内部有两个平行对置的房间和一个宽敞的门厅。建筑的中间是一个旋转楼梯，通往风车顶。楼上的门厅是分娩室。这座风车直到1886年才停止运行。