Maritime Museum
The Maritime Museum, which is in the hands of the parish of St. Peter and St. Paul in Nadur, began as an initiative of Kelinu Grima, a primary school teacher, a collection that he began to collect in the 1930s. Grima used to collect all these objects in his own home. When Kelinu Grima began to advance in age, he decided to leave his collection, which had now grown considerably after about seventy years, to the parish of Nadur. A place had to be thought of where this collection could be exhibited as a museum.
Under the direction of Archpriest Mons. Salvu Muscat, the old Parish House of the Parish was chosen in Triq il-Kappillan, just behind the new Parish House. This building was built by the parish priest of Nadur, Dun Ġwann Camilleri (later Archpriest) in 1881. It is a house with a beautiful façade and which ceased to function as a Parish House with the last Archpriest the parish had who was not from the village, Can. Joseph Cassar, from Ta’ Sannat and who died in 1950. The collection soon began to be put in its place. The Museum was inaugurated by the Minister of Gozo, the Hon. Giovanna Debono on 19 June 1999.
When visiting, one notices that there are four halls with objects from three hundred years of maritime history. The first hall includes around three hundred pieces from ships, both military and passenger, as well as some models of other ships.
In the second hall we find objects of greater value, such as a piece of the HMS Victory ship on which the skilled British Admiral Lord Nelson sailed and others. In the third hall there are several pieces of the American ship, the US Constitution, a model of the Calypso, the one on which the French researcher Jacques Costeau sailed. We also find some local ex-votos related to the sea. In the fourth hall we find models and everything related to the local ferries between Malta and Gozo.
Writing and research: Daniel Meilak B.A. (Hons)
Photos and Videos: Darren Cassar