An Oasis of Tranquility

The name ‘Kercem’ is probably derived from the name of a family who lived there in the 1400’s. This village is very rich in history as the ‘Mixta’
Hills were the first to be inhabited about 7000 years ago. The village of Kercem also boasts the beautiful valley of the Lunzjata. The Lunzjata Valley is very lush and has many natural springs and aqueducts.

L-Ghadira ta’ San Raflu, which is a man-made pond (and the only one of its kind in Gozo), has turtles, ducks, frogs and goldfish and the lake is named after Saint Raphael. For most of the year this small depression is filled with water. In times gone by, the villagers of Kercem used to wash their clothes here. Legend has it that three young ladies who were washing their clothes there were kidnapped by pirates and enslaved on one of their ships. Saint Raphael Lake is located near the cliffs and many fishermen used to tie themselves with a rope from the top of the cliff to fish. Once a local fisherman who was supported by a rope lost control and plunged into the rough sea below. Although he was a good swimmer, he could not swim to the rocks to climb back. He had lost all hope of survival when he saw a White Lady. She helped him ashore and then she disappeared.

The feast of San Raflu is celebrated on the second Sunday in July and every year a fun fair is held at `L-Ghadira ta` San Raflu` where many games are played. There are also pony rides for children and many more activities such as spot prizes where the prizes are live animals such as chicks, rabbits etc.

There is a peaceful serenity and tranquility about the place. In winter families and hikers alike use this spot as a resting place, a place for relaxation where you can take the time to admire the scenery and nature around you.

Also on the outskirts of Kercem lies Santa Lucija which is dedicated to an old chapel of St. Lucy built in 1657. In years gone by, the village had its own windmill and defensive tower but today, sadly, these lie in ruins. It is worth sitting down on one of the benches scattered around the village square and absorbing the atmosphere and experiencing what can only be termed as a case of ‘time stopping still’. Here, nobody is rushed and everything moves at a slow pace.