Ta’ Kola Windmill: A Glimpse into Gozitan Rural Life

Ta’ Kola Windmill, located in the village of Xagħra on the island of Gozo, is one of the few surviving windmills in Malta. Built in 1725 during the rule of the Knights of St. John, under Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena, it was initially constructed to grind wheat into flour, a vital food source for the local community. The windmill's name comes from Nikola (Kola) Grech, the last miller who operated it.The structure consists of a central cylindrical tower surrounded by several rooms across two floors. The ground floor houses a workshop with an impressive collection of traditional tools for carpentry, smithing, and stone dressing. These tools reflect the resourcefulness of the millers, who often worked as skilled artisans. The upper floors served as the living quarters for the miller's family, showcasing vernacular furniture, a kitchen, and bedrooms with displays of a cotton gin and weaving loom.Ta’ Kola Windmill remained in operation until the 1960s. The mechanism of the windmill was restored to full working condition in 2016. Today, Ta’ Kola Windmill functions as a museum, offering visitors a glimpse into Gozo's rural economy and domestic life in centuries past. Visitors can climb the narrow, winding stairs to see the original milling gear and explore the living quarters.