In a powerful visual contrast, two images capture the timeless essence of life in Fontana, Gozo, one from the past, one from the present, yet both connected by the same source: water.

On the left, a historic photo shows women gathered at Għajn tal-Ħasselin, a communal washbasin where locals once washed clothes by hand. This photo provides a window into everyday life from a bygone era, where water was more than a utility; it was a social anchor, a place of connection, and a rhythm woven into the fabric of rural living. Conversations, laughter, and shared routines filled these stone basins, making them central to community life.

On the right, a modern image of Għajn ta’ Bendu - one of the natural springs that still flows in Fontana reveals how the past quietly lingers in the present. Though washing practices have changed and lifestyles have shifted, the spring remains, flowing with the same steady determination.

Fontana, which takes its name from these natural springs, remains a village rooted in heritage.

Do you enjoy these throwback photos?