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GOZO
Gozo
Gozo is in Malta. Cities
Victoria -- Also called Rabat, the island's capitalMġarr -- Gozo's main harbour, where the ferry from Malta arrivesMarsalfornXaghraXlendiOther destinations
Ramla i-Hamra is arguably Malta's (gozo's) finest beach. The name means red sands, referring to the beautiful reddish colour of the sand. The bay is completely spared from development, and thus the beach remains relatively uncrowded. This site also claims to be where Calypso's cave is, the cave referred to in Homer's Odyssey.Understand
One sometimes gets the sense that Gozo is how Malta could have been. With the exceptions of Marsalforn and Xlendi, it has been largely spared from short-sighted overdevelopment, the traditional way of life and society has survived better, and the land has been maintained better giving more fertile ground. Buildings and houses on Gozo are mainly done with natural materials, as opposed to many of the concrete and breeze-block constructions on the mainland. HistoryGozo's history is intimately linked to Malta. It shares its megalithic culture, and with the Ggantija temple, it is officially home of the oldest structure on the planet. Interestingly, Gozo up until the end of medieval times was inhabited in a manner the same as Malta, with Mġarr and Victoria/Rabat being to Gozo what Vittoriosa and Mdina are to Malta: the main port and the main settlement consisting of a citadel and surrounding suburbs. The inhabitants of Gozo were, in medieval times, required by law to return to the Citadella each evening to spend the night there to prevent corsairs from abducting them. These measures were proven to be necessary when, in 1551, the Turks tried their first invasion of Malta. When they failed, they attacked Gozo and took the entire population off in ships to sell them into slavery. Talk
It should also be noted that if you do learn some Maltese, there are different dialects throughout different parts of the country. People on Gozo speak Maltese with a slightly different accent from the main Maltese islanders, and people from the village of Xewkija have a different dialect from the people on the rest of Gozo and Malta. Like the mainland, English is also an official language of Gozo. Get in
There is the ferry from Ċirkewwa on Malta to Mġarr, Gozo's main harbour. It departs every 45 minutes in the summer and almost as often in the winter. The trip there is free, but going back to Malta costs Lm2. One can also take a helicopter from the airport, but this is a bit pricey compared to the Lm1.50 for a bus ticket from Valletta to the departure point of the ferry at Ċirkewwa and the free ferry crossing. There are plans to build an international airport on the beautiful and unspoilt Ta Cenc cliffs of this tiny island, but hopefully someone will realise that the main airport, which already stretches across almost a quarter of Malta itself, is more than enough. Get around
The bus system is possibly even more antiquated than on Malta proper, with plenty of the same quaint...
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Hotels in Gozo
 | St. George's Park/La Vallette Resort  |
Score 6.2 from 305 reviews | | Dragonara Road |  |
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 | Hotel San Andrea |
Score 8.375 from 73 reviews | | Xlendi Promenade | |
| The Zafiro restaurant and terrace lies on the ground floor and extends onto the waterfront. The Opening times are
Breakfast: 08:00-10:00
Lunch: 12:00-15:00 (Snacks and a La carte)
Dinner: 18:00-21:00 (Daily set menu and A la carte. Specializing in Mediterranean cuisine and fresh fish)
Please note that the dinner rate is not including beverage.
Guest booking half board service may exchange the dinner with lunch, if requested in time. ... more | | |
 | Pergola Club Hotel & Spa  |
Score 8.05 from 51 reviews | | Adenau Street | |
| Built on the sides of one of the valleys in Mellieha, the hotel offers exquisite views of the church, the bay, the islands of Gozo and Comino, and the village.
The picturesque village of Mellieha, with its many shops, bars and restaurants, is only 200 metres from the hotel. You can easily access the main attractions before returning to the hotel where you can relax in the spa or enjoy a drink in the numerous bars. Pergola Club Hotel & Spa features a children's play area, a games room and an indoor and outdoor pool.
At the Pergola you can choose between guest rooms and self-catering apartments, all with panoramic balconies. Free Wi-Fi access is available in communal areas.
For lunch and dinner you have a vast choice of restaurants, all serving a delicious choice of Mediterranean dishes. End your day in style with live music in the trendy lounge bar. ... more | | |
| | Topaz Hotel |
Score 6.4 from 21 reviews | | Erba Mwiezeb Street | |
| Set in the North of the Island in the heart of the popular seaside resort of Bugibba, the Topaz hotel is less than a 10 minute walk from the beach.
This modern hotel is located close to Saint Paul’s Bay and the lively town centre which is full of recreational activities, entertainment and shopping.
At the Topaz Hotel you can take advantage of the wide range of facilities available including organised entertainment, fresh water outdoor pool and a games room. During the winter months you can relax in the indoor pool and sauna.
There’s a great choice for dinner at the hotel’s broad selection of fine dining outlets with everything from a quick snack to a delicious pizza or romantic meal. They specialise in both meat and fresh fish dishes with local and international recipes. ... more | | |
 | Hotel Plevna |
Score 6.95 from 210 reviews | | Hughes Hallet Street | |
| Apart from the listed services, the hotel also offers occasional entertainment as well as local and international cuisine plus vegetarian choices.
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| | | More hotels in Gozo |
| Mdina Morning Tour including Mdina Experience Show |
3.5 - 4 hours |
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This tour will aquaint you with Malta's ancient capital perched on a hill overlooking fields and countryside. You will be met at your hotel before beginning a drive up to Mdina.
From the main gate and together with our guide, you will walk through this unique medieval city with it's typical winding streets and hidden alleys that suddenly give way to imposing and prime examples of Norman and Baroque architecture.
You will have a guided tour of the St Paul's Cathedral - the original medieval cathedral dedicated to St Paul was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693. The present edifice was completed and consecrated in 1702 and is the work of Lorenzo Gafa (1638-1703). It is traditionally believed to be standing on the site of the house of Publius, the Roman governor at the time of St Paul's stay on the island. the next point of interest will be the fortifications which totally enclose this city.
Finally, enjoy the "Mdina Experience Show" - an audio visual experience on Mdina's checkered history intended to inform and entertain.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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| Malta Highlights - Mosta, Mdina and Rabat |
8 hours |
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Drive to Mosta for your first visit is to St. Mary's Church - a magnificent domed church, known as the Mosta Rotunda built between the 1830's and 1860's. Designed by Maltese architect Giorgio de Vasse, it is said to be the third largest unsupported church dome in Europe - superseded only by St Peter's in Rome and St Sophia in Istanbul.
In World War II, the Church took a direct hit from a German bomb during mass. The bomb pierced the dome, but failed to explode. This event is now legendary. You can see a replica of the 200kilogram bomb in the sacristy.
The next visit is to the silent city of Mdina - the old capital is a typical mediaeval town situated in the center of the island. The "Silent City", as it is also known, commands a magnificent view of the island and although it is fully inhabited, silence reigns supreme. Today, it is mainly off limits to cars and there is a calming atmosphere as you walk along its narrow streets and ways, passing by some of the best Norman and Baroque architecture on the island.
Accompanied by the guide, you will, visit the St. Paul's Cathedral and then to the medieval fortifications for a panoramic view of the island. Lunch will be served at the Bacchus restaurant nestled within the Southern bastion of the City. "The Knights of Malta" show will be your next stop after which a short break for coffee and cakes is included.
Next you will proceed to Rabat to visit St. Paul's Grotto. According to a strong tradition, based on early writings of St. Luke, the Apostle Paul found shelter in this grotto after he was shipwrecked on the island.
The last visit will be to the Handicrafts Village of Ta' Qali; an ideal place to pick up souvenirs.
Click here for more information and Booking Details
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St. George's Basilica, Victoria
 At the centre of the parish, surrounded by a maze of charming narrow streets, is St. George's Basilica. Built between 1672 and 1678, the church reflects the history of Gozo with its objects and signs of former cultures and settlements dating back to Roman times. All paintings in the dome and ceiling are the works of Giovanni Battista Conti of Rome. Other paintings are by Mattia Preti, Giuseppe Cali and Stefano Erardi. The richly decorated statue of St. George is remarkable. It was carved in wood by Paolo Azzopardi in 1841.
| type: | Palaces |
| zipcode: | Victoria, Gozo |
| email: | info@stgeorge.org.mt |
| address: | St George Square |
| url: | www.stgeorge.org.mt |
| tel: | +356 21 556 377 |
The Citadel, Victoria
A visit to Gozo should begin in Victoria, the island's capital. Victoria was named after the English monarch Queen Victoria, to commemorate her Silver Jubilee in 1897. Even today, many locals still call it by its original name, Rabat (which means city).
This commercial hub with its street market (known as it-Tokk, in Independence Square) also contains the Citadel (known often as the Gran Castello or the Cittadella), an impregnable strategic point which owes its origins to the late mediaeval era, and which was re-fortified by the Knights of the Order of St. John to act as protection for the inhabitants.
For many centuries, pirates and corsairs used Gozo's small harbours for shelter, while they raided the island in search of fresh produce and water. Often they took the inhabitants captives in order to sell them as slaves. To save themselves and their families from this terrifying fate, the inhabitants, on discovering the enemy had landed, would flee to the highest point at the centre of the island.
The Citadel was comparatively safe, but its walls were not impregnable and would probably not have been able to withstand the onslaught of an armed force determined to enter. After their victory in the Great Siege of 1565 against the Ottoman Turks, however, the Knights reinforced the Citadel's vertical battlements, and it is these we see today.
Within its walls lies the cathedral designed by Lorenzo Gafa, built between 1697 and 1711. At the time it was constructed, money was in short supply so its dome was never erected, but this imperfection was brilliantly disguised by an Italian painter, Antonio Manuele. In the interior of the Cathedral he created a magnificent trompe l'oeil painting that shows the interior of a dome in full splendour.
Inside the Citadel one also finds the Cathedral Museum with vestments, silver and gold items used in sacred services. There are the Archaeological Museum which holds several objects found at various sites in Gozo, the Natural History Museum and the Folklore Museum. There is also a craft centre housed in the old prison buildings, which provides a window on local crafts, both traditional and modern.
Not to be missed are the spectacular views across the island from the battlements. An earthquake in 1693 damaged many of the mediaeval buildings within the walls, but these are now being restored.
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