Ta' Kola Windmill

12/04/2026

On this day, 126 years ago, Ġużeppi Grech, popularly known as Żeppu ta’ Kola, was born. 🎂

He was the last miller to operate Ta’ Kola Windmill. After returning from Australia in the 1920s, following the death of his father Nicola, Ġużeppi took over the management of the windmill. A reserved and diligent man, he mastered a wide range of skills as demonstrated by the impressive collection of his tools, now displayed at the windmill. 🔨⚒

Through the regular maintenance he carried out on both the machinery and the building, he left the windmill in a remarkably good state, and its survival today owes much to his care and dedication.

🖼 George Apap, 'Żeppu ta’ Kola u l-Mitħna tax-Xagħra, Għawdex', Watercolour on paper, 2024.

09/04/2026

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us at Ta’ Kola Windmill for our Weaving and Traditional Crafts event. It was wonderful to see our participants engaging so enthusiastically throughout the activity. 🪢

Sharing these traditional skills in this way is always special, and it reminds us how important it is to keep these traditions alive and pass them on.

Thank you for being part of it. ❤

01/04/2026

🇲🇹 Is-siti u l-mużewijiet kollha ta' Heritage Malta se jkunu magħluqin fil-Ġimgħa l-Kbira, it-3 ta' April.

Filwaqt li nixtiqulkom il-paċi f’qalbkom, f’dan iż-żmien ta' riflessjoni u gratitudni, ninsabu ħerqana biex nerġgħu nilqgħukom fil-ħinijiet tal-ftuħ normali tagħna ✝️

🇬🇧 Kindly note that all Heritage Malta museums and sites will be closed on Good Friday, 3rd April.

Whilst wishing you a heart full of peace, in this time of reflection and gratitude, we look forward to welcoming you again during our regular hours ✝️

25/03/2026

This unusual artefact, forming part of the kitchen setup at Ta' Kola Windmill was likely assembled from repurposed materials and is an authentic example of traditional food-preservation practices in rural Gozo.

Used for air-drying meats and sausages, the container is shaped like a perforated metal cage and would typically be hung on a nail in a cool, dry place. 🍖🥩

10/03/2026

🪢Inseġ memorji dejjiema mal-familja!

Il-Ħamis 19 ta’ Marzu, btala pubblika, ingħaqad magħna għal workshop interattiv uniku fil-Mitħna Ta’ Kola f’Għawdex, waħda fost l-aktar imtieħen tas-seklu 18 ippreservati tajjeb. Skopri r-rwol kruċjali tal-qoton fl-istorja tal-gżejjer tagħna, ara nissieġa tradizzjonali għaddejja b’ħidmitha u midd idejk għal din il-ħila inti stess.

🔗Idħol hawn għall-biljetti u għal aktar tagħrif: heritagemalta.mt/whats-on/weaving-traditional-crafts/

🪢 Weave lasting family memories!

On Thursday 19th March, a public holiday, join us for a unique hands-on workshop at the beautifully preserved 18th-century Ta’ Kola Windmill in Gozo. Discover the crucial role of cotton in our islands’ history, watch a traditional weaver at work and try your hand at this skill.

🔗Click here for tickets and more details: heritagemalta.mt/whats-on/weaving-traditional-crafts/

18/02/2026

🪢 Join us for ‘Weaving & Traditional Crafts’, taking place on Thursday 19th March at the historic Ta’ Kola Windmill, Xagħra.

This event includes a guided tour in Maltese or English where participants will be transported back to a time when windmills stood at the heart of village life, discover the importance of cotton in the Maltese Islands and domestic crafts during the time of the Knights of St John and beyond. Participants will then have the opportunity to observe a traditional weaver at work and will be invited to try basic weaving techniques themselves, gaining hands-on insight into skills passed down through generations. 🪢

🔗Click here for tickets and more details: https://heritagemalta.mt/whats-on/weaving-traditional-crafts/

11/02/2026

When purchasing a ticket to Ta’ Kola Windmill, the same combo ticket also includes access to the nearby Ġgantija Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located approximately two minutes’ walk from one another, the two sites together offer a glimpse into traditional rural life and prehistoric ingenuity. 🎫Tickets may be purchased on site on the day of the visit or online via the below link: https://heritagemalta.mt/store/c37/

04/02/2026

28/01/2026

The millers of the past used an ingenious method to communicate with the villagers: a large conch shell known as a ‘bronja’ or triton’s shell.🐚 The pointed end of the shell was cut off so it could be blown into like a trumpet.🎺 When sounded, it produced a distinctive call that echoed throughout the village, signalling customers to bring their sacks of grain to the mill when the winds were favourable, or to collect their flour when it was ready.🌾 In the quiet life of those times, the bronja’s unmistakable sound played a key role in daily village life.