The village of Ghajnsielem is situated in the small island of Gozo, Malta's sister-island. Malta is situated in the centre of the Mediterranean - 93 km south of Italy and 290 km north of North Africa. Gozo lies about 5 km in the North West of Malta and the distance between Xirkewwa in Malta and Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, involves a 25 minute ferry crossing.

Ghajnsielem has a population of around 3,000 and is the first Gozitan village that will greet you as soon as you leave Mgarr Harbour towards the Gozitan heartland. As soon as you enter Mgarr Harbour, while still aboard the ferry, you could not help but notice the welcoming landmarks of the harbour village of Ghajnsielem. Lourdes Chapel with its sharp steeple and underlying niche of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fort Chambray on the left-hand side dominating the high grounds and, on the distant background, the towering belfry of Ghajnsielem's Parish Church. The people of Ghajnsielem are referred to as il-Ghajnsilmizi.

The name of the village is a composite of 'Ghajn' (spring of)  and 'Is-sliem' (peace). This name probably refers to a natural spring which used to supply water, and subsequently modified and reconstructed by Grand Master Raymond Perellos in 1700 when he built an arcade containing nine washing basins bestowed its name to the village.