Gharb - Parish Church of the Immaculate Conception

The foundation stone for this church was laid in 1699, 20 years after Gharb had become a parish and had outgrown its older church of St Mary's. Designed by Guiseppi Azzoparto, the structure has obvious Roman baroque swathes, a concave facade split by a razor of a balustrade and two dominant bell-towers. The upper facade neatly hides the drumless dome collecting the whole into a uniform and manageable size.

The three statues of Faith, Hope and Charity on either side of the square complete the fine building.

Inside, the plan is circular and the main altarpiece "The Visitation of Our Lady to her Cousin St Elisabeth" was a gift from Grand Master de Vilhena in the early 18th C. An inscription on the right-hand clock face reads "heed precious time."