National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu (Maltese: Santwarju tal-Madonna ta' Pinu). The origins of the Shrine of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu are unknown, but the first records of its existence are in the archives of the Curia in Gozo, when the Bishop Domenico Cubelles paid a visit to the chapel. This noted that the chapel had just been rebuilt and that it belonged to the noble family of "The Gentile". When in 1575, the apostolic visitor Msgr. Pietro Duzina found it was in a very bad state he ordered the church to be closed and demolished. However, according to tradition when the workmen struck the first blow with the pick he broke his arm. This was taken as an omen that this chapel had to be preserved. In 1858 the church property changed hands and consequently its name, from "Of the Gentile" to "Ta` Pinu". This happened since Pinu Gauci became the procurator of this church and in 1611 he willingly offered money for its restoration. He also commissioned the painting of the Assumption of Our Lady for the main altar. Construction of a magnificent church in Romanesque Style began in 1920. In 1932 the new Church was blessed and opened to the public and in 1935, Pope Pius XI raised it to the dignity of Minor Basilica. In May 1990, Pope John Paul II and in April 2010 Pope Benedict XVI came to Ta' Pinu Shrine.

2014/12, Coordinates:  36°3'42"N 14°12'53"E

Ta' Pinu