The Maltese archipelago lies at the centre of the Mediterranean, Malta being 93km south of Sicily and 288km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo & Comino with a total population of 400,000 inhabitants.
From the natural sights and caves to the oldest temples in the world, Gozo has a long history to offer. As a deeply religious popluation, churches and other religious attractions are also abundant on the island. You might get inspiration from our tips for visit.
The Capital City
As the saying "Every road leads to Rome", well in Gozo, every road leads to Victoria – the capital city of Gozo and also known as Rabat to the locals. In Victoria you find also the old fort called Citadella. The Citadella, also known as the Citadel, is a small fortified city. The area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and in the Medieval era it was known as the Gran Castello. There is a baroque Cathedral designed by Lorenzo Gafa, the Maltese architect. It is most famous for the remarkable trompe oil painting on its ceiling, which depicts the interior of a dome that was never built. The Citadella has been on Malta’s tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites since 1998. It is a majestic, ancient wonder, when you are inside it’s walls you forget about the outside world and you will be transported back centuries. You can find here a lot of museums, traditional restaurants, amazing history and views.
Archaelogical Places
In Gozo you can find numerous archaelogical sites. First population had come around 5500 B.C. and by 3600 B.C. they started to build and carve in stone. You can find temples that are the oldest free-standing stone buildings in the world and have UNESCO World Heritage status. It is the most popular the Ggantija Temple compels in Xaghra built between 3600 and 3200 B.C. There are apses flanking a central corridor and some temples have a large terrace. Very close to these temples there is The North Cave that was discovered in 1949 full of material from Tarxien Phase (3000-2500 B.C.). In the same village you can also find an extensive Roman Domus ir-Ramla that has been still in renovation or Santa Verna Temple that consist from three blocks of stone stand on edge.
Gozitan Beaches
Gozo has several very nice beaches that are useful for recreation and they are all remarkably unique. Besides the physical differences in the beaches themselves, accessibility and services are also factors. The water is a blue crystal clear and clean. In Summer is getting warm and it is perfect for swimming, snorkelling and diving.
Gozo's relative isolation means that the beaches don't get as overcrowded as most of the beaches on the larger island of Malta. Ramla and Marsalforn are two of the most popular beaches on the island, mainly because of their location and close by facilities. Ramla Bay is one of the biggest red beaches and you can find it in the north of the island.
Another amazing little sandy beach known mainly around local people is called Hondoq ir-Rummien opposite a small island Comino where is a famous the Blue Lagoon - the most beautiful beach in Malta. Other beaches are equally unique and beautiful, but may see fewer visitors due to their remote locations. Ghajn Barrani, for example, which is on the road that runs from Xaghra to Marsalforn, is a beautiful and quiet beach, but not very accessible.
Our favourite place for swimming is Xlendi Bay. This place is admirable where you find a little sandy beach and also rock places surrounded by local fish restaurants. Xlendi Bay is a popular place for snorkelling and diving.
Churches and Chapels
“Malta has enough churches to visit a different one every day of the year”.
You can be actually sure that it is true. Every little village has its own church and there are some that are really adorable and huge in comparison. You can find churches very various built in seventeenth-century or very modern churches.
Some churches are really worth it to visit. We can recommend Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Nadur, Gozo Cathedral in the Citadella, Rotunda of St. John the Baptist in Xewkija, Saint Anne in Dwejra and one of the wonderful churches Ta´Pinu Sanctuary in Gharb. You can be sure that every church has own legend.