Places to visit in Gozo
Victoria (Rabat)
The Citadel or ‘Gran Castello’ houses the cathedral with its very ornate interior and impressive “trompe d’oeil” ceiling painting by Antonio Manuele. This provides an amazing impression of how the dome would have looked if lack of funds had not prevented its completion. Behind the cathedral is a museum containing paintings and church ornaments. Climb up the rampart steps in the cathedral courtyard for spectacular views across the whole island. The present bastions date back to the times of Grandmaster Wignacourt (1600). The dome boasts a diameter of some 80 feet and is one of the largest in the world and comparable to that in the more noted church of Mosta in Malta. The Venetian-style church was constructed mainly through voluntary labour around the old parish church, which was only removed upon completion of the new building.Gozo’s pleasant capital was renamed Victoria by the British in honour of the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 1887, but Gozitans still use the Arabic name of Rabat. The ’hub’ of activity on most mornings is the market square, It-Tokk ( Meeting Place ). Although the goods will not be of great interest to tourists, the tiny alleys and the little houses of the old town, immediately behind the square, are well worth a visit. The baroque St. George’s Church (1678) in the square of the same name is particularly elaborate, featuring an impressive painting of St. George slaying a dragon.
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Xlendi
With a tiny sandy and pebbly beach, tucked away in the south under towering cliffs, this is a pleasant fishing village with a charm of its own. It is an ideal spot for a meal along the small seafront promenade. There is also some excellent rock bathing if you climb the stairs and follow the path cut into the steep rocky promontory on the right-hand side of the bay. Xlendi is a great place for enjoying a cappuccino at one of the many cafes, while the waves roll in at your feet just a few meters away. More information & photos
Ta' Pinu
This massive Neo-Romanesque building on the road between Gharb and Ghammar is a destination of pilgrimage for the whole of Malta. Life-size statues representing the Way of the Cross surround the church. It was built in the 1920’s to replace the earlier Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption, which was cared for by Pilippono Gauci (nicknamed Pinu). The church’s claim to fame is its apparently miraculous power. In 1833, a local woman, Carmela Grima heard the voice of the Virgin urging her to pray for a friend’s dying mother. The women miraculously recovered and other miracles followed.More information & photos
Ggantija Prehistoric Temples
Near the road from Victoria to Xaghra are the two ancient Gġantija Temples dating from around 2800BC. Excavated in 1972, the site comprises a main and minor temple and a perimeter wall consisting of huge stones. One may note the ingenuity displayed by the primitives who built the temples, that may claim were constructed by “giants” – hence the name. You can obtain an information booklet in various languages about the site for a small fee on your visit. More information & photos
Xaghra
In the sprawling village of Xagħra , and worth a short visit, are Xerri’s Grotto and Ninu’s Grotto. These two prehistoric caves feature stalagmite and stalactite formations. Nearby is Ramla Bay , an ideal spot for swimming with the best sandy beach on Gozo. Calypso’s Cave offers a marvellous panoramic view over Ramla Bay ’s red sandy beach.More information & photos - Xaghra
More information & photos - Ramla Beach
Dwejra
Not far from the village of San Lawrenz you will find Dwerja Bay . This is a spectacular area of natural beauty with some stunning views. At the entrance is Fungus Rock, so named because of its mushroom-like shape. Apparently a rare pungent herb that was wrongly thought to cure dysentery thrived on its top. Nearby is the Inland Sea , or Il-Qawra. It is an eroded limestone hollow that has created an inland harbour joined to the sea by a tunnel through the rocks. Pictured below is the Azure window, one of the island’s most remarkable landmarks, also at this bay. The area arguably offers Gozo’s finest swimming in clear blue waters. One may enjoy some excellent walks on the cliff tops as well. More information & photos
Xewkija
This is a small agricultural town named after the thistle that grows wild in the surrounding countryside. Xewkija is most famous for its imposing new church which was ingeniously built around the old parish church of St. John the Baptist and which dwarfs all other buildings in the area. Its impressive dome is one of the largest in Europe and stands 6 meters taller than that of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London . More information & photos
Ghajnsielem & Mgarr
Ghajnsielem lies just above Mgarr harbour, the one real port of the island, at which the Gozo-Malta ferry boat calls. The village began in fact developing when Mgarr became the principal and the best guarded port of Gozo. Yet the village has been important since prehistoric times with a Megalithic Temple and an important Stone Circle, together with many other sites of interest of past and present times. More information & photos
Comino
Comino is the smallest island within the Maltese archipelago and is one of the only places left in the Mediterranean with no cars.It has an area of 1.5 sq. kms. and there are about eight residents living on the Island . Traffic is inexistent and noise is the exception rather than the rule. An idyllic place, that provides a sanctuary for wildlife and is covered with wild flowers. Botanists and lovers of nature will enjoy it’s natural beauty and peacefulness. Comino takes its name from the cumin herb, which is widely found together with many other fragrant plants.
Although hardly any part of Comino is out of reach for the strong walker, some caution is recommended if paths are taken near the cliff edges due to overhanging rocks.
The island enjoys a true, ‘get away from it all’ atmosphere and is a haven for snorkellers and scuba divers. The Blue Lagoon is particularly popular with visitors.
Boat trips from Mġarr to Comino operate throughout the year although accommodation on the island is only available from April to October.
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Accreditations
What our students say
“Gozo is a good place to study English, if you are looking for quiet and relax. It’s a small school, the teachers are very kind and I have feeling care here.”
Nuria Gomez
Spain
