Hello everyone, these photos and story I will share with you all are from 2015, when we had just gotten married. My in-laws gave us a ticket to a trip to Italy. I just opened my old phone and I saw some of our old pictures, and I can't resist sharing this with you all. I still remember the way sunlight poured through the limestone arches of the Assumption Church in Gozo, casting golden hues across the marble floors. That visit was unplanned, but it was amazing, turned out to be a moment of stillness and wonder, where faith met art most breathtakingly. When we arrived on the island, it felt like stepping back in the old days. The place hadn’t changed with the modern world. My guidebook briefly mentioned the church, but I didn’t see how amazing it was until we stood in front of it. It had a beautiful Baroque front and sat proudly on top of the Citadel. Locals called it simply "Il-Knisja Katidral". The Cathedral, but its full title, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, echoed a deeper reverence.
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From the outside, the building stood out. It’s warm colored stone, shaped by time and weather, glowed in the morning sun. Detailed carvings decorated the top, and statues of saints stood above the entrance. When we walked inside, full of history and quiet prayers. I saw one painting on the ceiling, it's so beautiful, like a real one. According to them, these amazing paintings were done in the 1730s by an Italian artist named Antonio Manuele. It fooled the eyes and lifted the spirit, just like faith, which is about believing in things we can’t see. Even though we don’t believe in miracles when the amazing story I heard is a miracle to paint while the eye was blinded. The church is so beautiful. A marble altar stood in the middle, with wooden confessionals and colorful paintings showing scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. Every part of the church told a story. One statue of the Virgin Mary looked so lifelike, it felt like she might breathe.
As I walked around the church, I not only admired the art, but I also felt a deep connection. To the people who built it in the 1600s, imagine no machinery at that time, and to those who had prayed there before me, and to something greater: the human wish to feel close to the divine. An old man, probably the church caretaker, quietly told me about its history. It was built between 1697 and 1711 on top of an old Roman temple. As my husband and I were doing business as construction during that time we went there, I was amazed these structures had survived many hard times, like wars and earthquakes, and were still the heart of Gozo. He touched the stone wall and said, “She is our soul. She watches over us.”
We stayed a bit longer after the other visitors had left, sitting quietly under the painted dome. There was something special about this place, its peace, beauty, and history, that touched me deeply. It wasn’t just about religion. It was about how belief and art can last through time and bring people together. When we left the church, the view from the Citadel was stunning. I saw green hills, fields, and the ocean. In that moment, I understood why people still came here, why architects studied the church, and why faith and buildings like this are so closely connected. My mother-in-law requested me to visit this church, as they spent this trip, of course I did, since also not too far from where we stay. Visiting the Assumption Church wasn’t just about seeing a place, it meant something to me. Just walking around that old doorway, feeling so special, like the start of a memory I will never forget. When I looked at the photos, I got so excited to relive that moment and remember our honeymoon, our first trip together as husband and wife. I’m also really thankful to my in-laws for making it all possible. The memories and the old days pass by, will never fade from our hearts and minds. Keep on making good memories and enjoy life.
