Gozo
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- Maltese Island
- Mediterranean Sea
- Island with across 14km and width 7km.
- in Maltese: Ghadex [ˈaˤːw.dɛʃ]
- Population around 37 000
- Currency: Euro
- Official Languages: Maltese, English
- The Capital City: Victoria
- Religion: Roman Catholicism
- Calling Code: +356
- Driving: on the left
- Emergency Number: 112
Weather
- Mediterranean Climate
- Influenced by the sea
- Sunny Climate
- Summer... 12 hours of sunshine, average temperature 31 degrees
- Winter... 10 hours of daylight, average temperature with 15 degrees
- Average relative humidity 73%
History
- It has been inhabitated since 5000BC
- First colonist were from Sicily (specifically from the area of Agrigento)
- They lived in caves now known as San Lawrenz.
- During the neolithic period was very important place; Ggantija temples or Xaghra Stone Circle are the most important archaeological sites in Gozo.
- Christianity was brought in 60 A.D. by St. Paul
- Greek historians - Gozo is in fact the island Homer described as Ogygia, home of the nymph Calypso.
- Ottoman influence - In July 1551 they invaded and enslaved most of Gozitan people and brought them to Libya. The Island was repopulated between 1565 and 1580 by people from Malta, undertaken by the Knights of Malta. The Arabs influenced Maltese language.
- 1798 - 1801 Napoleon´s conquest
- 1814 - Malta was confirmed as a British Possession.
- The military importance of Malta and its islands was during Crimean War, First World War and Second World War. Maltese Islands were very destructed.
- 1961 - first statutory local government of Gozo
- 21st September 1964 - Independence from the British Government.
- 1974 - Malta became a Republic
- 31st March 1979 - the last of the British military personnel sailed out of Grand Harbour (known as Freedom Day).
*Source: Wikipedia (Gozo); VisitGozo.com (History)