They lead straight to the water's edge.
Situated in close proximity to Għajnsielem, Xewkija and Sannat, Mġarr ix-Xini is one of Gozo's most beautiful secluded bays. Closed off in August 2014 for the filming of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's romantic drama By the Sea, the bay is much loved by locals, tourists and production houses alike for it's largely unspoiled natural seascape, as well as the surrounding cliffs.
An interesting feature has recently been brought to light on a public Facebook group, where a rock-carved stairwell could be seen leading directly from the surrounding rockside to the water's edge.
As the picture below illustrates, the stairs lead to a small pool, dug out from the rocks in which people with little to no swimming ability could bathe in. The post generated many comments, with one respondent saying: "Remember that in those days it wasn't fashionable to lay in the sun and get a tan. The well to do in those day they all looked pale. The poor dark looking because they tend to be outside laborer."
Charlie Attard via Nostalgia Malta / Facebook
Another respondent explained that the shallow pool was referred to in the olden days as il-banju, or bathtub, in which young children would be taught to swim in. This is not an uncommon sight in Maltese bays. In fact there are many such shallow pools around rocky Maltese and Gozitan bays, another example of which can be found in Gozo's Xatt L-Aħmar.
Do you remember being thought how to swim in these shallow dug-out pools?