About Villages in Gozo: 

Getting Around

Where to Eat

Where to stay in Gozo

The Azure window- Dwejra Point

The Island of Gozo may be small but there is a lot to see and do. The charm of the island makes itself apparent as soon as you land. Gozo has an unmistakable air of tranquility even in the busy market street of its capital, Victoria, and in the harbors, when the daily catches of fresh fish are unloaded on the quays.

Gozo's landscape is rural with deep valleys and hilltop villages, with a rugged coastline ready to be explored. There are sand and smooth rocky beaches for relaxation, and clear safe waters for swimming.

'Zebbug'' means 'Olives' ..and this village was once famous for its abundance of olive trees. The olives were grown and harvested here and taken for pressing into oil at the adjacent village down the hill ,on the way to Victoria which is called Ghasri (meaning the ''pressing place'' ) Zebbug is an old hilltop village with exotic views

Map of Zebbug

.Three northern villages are built atop hills-. The village's highest spot is marked by its parish church and the customary stone cross in front of it. Except for the coastal portions of Qbajjar and Marsalforn, the villagers of Zebbug actually live on two hills connected by a narrow strip of land. The land drops abruptly all around. This can be experienced along the road to Qbajjar and Marsalforn. 

Here you will see that Zebbug commands spectacular views over the coast , land and sea. Another steep hill at Zebbug is the flat topped ta  Kuljat, which contains some bronze age silo pits. The area between this hill and Qbajjar to the north contains many Punic and Pre-Historic tombs.

Zebbug Excels. The villagers are known for the high quality of their (Bizzilla) lace, weaving and woolen blankets. Their religious values are untarnished, as judged for example from the high priority given to the maintenance of street niches.  

Included with Zebbug is a good portion of Gozo`s north shore, which is characterized by some scenic inlets, natural bluffs and man made salt pans. At Wied il-Ghasri, one of the islands beauty spots, quaint boat shelters align the narrow canyon, which also offers a small sandy beach.

On the west side of the island is one of Gozo s prettiest and most peaceful Villages. Particularly fine features of the houses are the stone balconies, many of them old and finely carved. Several British expatriates have made their homes here  restoring the old village and its farmhouses 

The dominant feature of the village center is the baroque Church of the Immaculate conception, whose concave facade, with its floral decoration and sculptures of Faith, Hope and Charity, makes a powerful impact. Two famous characters of Gharb are venerated in tiny museums : Frenc tal _Gharb, Gozo`s best known faith healer: and Carmela Grima who heard the miraculous voices at Ta Pinu. (picture below)

Gharb, pronounced "arb" is small and remote. For a locality with less than 1000 people, this is a singular distinction. But Gharb is a village of religious overtones and everything about it has a strong significance

This quiet  rural village east of Nadur has one of Malta's few surviving (but no longer working) 19th century  windmills. To the east, where the coastline is characterized by cliffs and rocky outcorps, there are fine views across to the rocky island  of Comino and the tiny isle of Cominotto beside it.

Qala is the farthest village from Goza s Capital Victoria and the closes to the rest of the Maltese archipelago.  Breath taking scenes can be enjoyed among other places from the Qala belvedere and from the small courtyard in front of a church dedicated to the immaculate conception but know as Santa Marija tal blat (St. Mary of the rocks). This Church faces Comino and it is said that it was built so that people of that island would follow mass from across the straits when rough weather precluded a priest from going there.

Except from a few sheltered inlets, like the popular Hondoq ir-rummien (Gorge of Pomegranates), Qala's coastline is a rocky trek to which nature and history both contribute a great deal. Historical works are mainly defensive structures designed to deter enemy landings. Foremost among these is St. Anthony`s battery (1732), known as it- trunciera( the trenc). This is one of the works of the Knights of Malta  

The mighty Xewkija rotunda, along with Victoria's Citadel, is the most conspicuous landmark in Gozo. The dome is one of the biggest in the world yet, for most Gozitans, it is not quite big enough; the intention was to exceed the dimensions of the Mosta Dome in Malta, which it succeeds in height but not in diameter.

The Church was built between 1951 and 1971, during which time services were held in the baroque church.  The exterior of the church has been compared to the Salute in Venice; the proportions and the baroque style are certainly reminiscent, though the external decoration is not as abundant.

  3 kms from Victoria (Bus no.87 from Victoria)

The idyllic landlocked bay and the glorious blue green waters were for many years a haunt of artists and photographers. More recently it has very much become a tourist resort. The shingle beach , rocky shore and clear waters are good for swimming and the caves and rugged reefs provide ideal conditions for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Some of the restaurants on the seafront specialize in local fish and succulent giant prawns

 

Victoria -

Gozo Capital City

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 little 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 harbors 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 center of the island.ap

Places to Visit in Victoria: 

• The Citadel
• Museum of Archaeology
• Cathedral/ Cathedral Museum
• It-Tokk- open air local market
• Crafts Center
• Folklore museum
• Gozo 360 degrees-(showing at the Citadel) Multivision show- giving a glimpse into Gozo`s past and present
• RABAT [ is also called Victoria]  dominated by the Citadel, a fortification designed to safeguard the local population against the constant threat of piracy in the early centuries. The Bastions offer an unparalleled view of Gozo, stretching almost 360 degrees. During sunset, the view of the Citadel itself and of Ta' Pinu church which overlooks Mgarr harbour, is the stuff of postcards; grab your cameras and capture them if you can.

- Gozo harbour

Arriving  in Gozo from Malta, your  first close up view will be of Mgarr, where fishing boats and ferries lie in a harbor backed by flat-roofed houses on the hillside. Dominating the scene are the Churches of Our Lady of Lourdes, on the cliffs above the village, and neighboring Ghajnsielem. 

The huge and ornately embellished baroque church of our Lady of Victories forms the focal point of this sprawling hilltop village. Every year on the 8 th September, the 

VISIT THE STALACTITE GROTTOES OF XAGHRA IN GOZO

 The village of Xaghra is poised on a high limestone plateau. As limestone is soft and porous, rainwater percolates through and by chemical action melts the more soluble materials, leaving the harder ones to stand. This explains the formation of caves and grottoes in limestone terrains. 

Two such underground caves have been discovered at Xaghra: the first in 1888 by Joseph Rapa, in a field known as ta' Ninu (belonging to Anthony); the second in 1923 by Joseph Xerri, beneath his own home. 

The two men were digging wells for rain water, when they came across the caves. On the two occasions, further digging and investigations revealed fairly large grottoes and an amazing sight of crystal-like formations - some hanging from the top, others shooting up from the ground, and others needle-shaped or thick as tree-trunks. 

The men later learned that the strange formations were stalactites and stalagmites, formed by carbonate of lime in the rain-water seeping through the rocks. As the water evaporates, the dissolved chemical stiffens while it drops from the cave. Some of it hardens in hanging strips and become stalactites - other drops fall on the floor and build themselves in upright shafts or stalagmites. The process may take thousands of years. 

The two caves soon caught the people's imagination. Many visited the curious caves and ever since the two sites came to be known as Scerri's Grotto and Ninu's Cave respectively. They have both been opened to the public at the owner's own initiative. 

Marsalforn is a fishing village on the north coast which has developed into Gozo's most popular sea resort. Its small size means that everywhere is within walking distance, and can be very tranquil in the off-peak seasons. Very popular with Gozitans, particularly on Sundays, and with Maltese visitors in summer, who tend to spend their weekends here. It is well serviced by restaurants, shops ,& diving centers..

From a seaside village frequented by a small number of prosperous fishermen, Marsalforn has now become Gozo`s Largest resort. The fishing village has gradually extended along the crescent -shaped rocky bay, and these days a hotel , lots of apartment blocks, souvenir shops are more prominent than a few fishing boats that dot the little harbor. The small beach attracts the crowds, but venture to the north west and you will find the bays of Qbajjar and Xwejni, much quieter for swimming. The salt pans all around here date from 1740 and are still in use, producing several tons of sea salt every year.

The name of this village bears its value as a seaport- "Marsa" means `port` or `bay` while forn derived from lifurna, an Arabic word for `ship`.  A grand open view of Marsalforn area is viewable from the top of il-merzuq. This volcano like hill has beckoned the attention of the people since 1901, when a large wooden cross was erected on its peak. Three years later, when Gozo was consecrated to Christ the Saviour, a stone statue of Christ replaced the cross .  This was in turn replaced by a gigantic concrete statue towering twelve meteres above the hill, which has been re-named tas- Salvatur (Our Saviours Hill). 

The reason why G hasri was chosen to carry the beacon for Gozo is its location. The village overlooks the northernmost point of the Maltese islands and sentries have always been sent here to watch for boats approaching the islands from the north. Ghasri remains its 18th century charm and its magnificent views from Ghammar and ta Gordan while it continues to flash that beam of light.

 

Sannat

Home of the falcon. " Rod fisherman performed a spectacular flight of their own by suspending themselves from the cliff tops"

A quant agricultural village in southern Gozo, Sannat is one of the few places where you can still see lace being made. In the summer months you may see elderly women seated outside thir homes making delicate shawls, table mats or lace-edged handkerchiefs. Sannat is also known for its carved stone balconies. These days the most conspicuous are the brand new ones, with their ornate and fanciful decoration. The focal point of this straggling village is the parish church, dedicated to St. Margaret and built in 1781. Beyond the village the sheer cliffs of Ta Cenc drop 180m down to the sea. From Sannat , a 1.5km walk along a country road and then a valley will bring you to the pretty little inlet of Mgarr ix-Xini

As a hilltop village San Lawrenz may be tiny, but its long coastline is an intriguing one that records life during various epoch, from that of the Knights to pre-history. Cart ruts, long thought to be absent from western Gozo, exist at Qawra. Remains ofof a Cartiginian temple complex in use between 300BC  and 100 AD survive at tal-harrux, where grafitti in a rock cut cave portray a hermit at prayer. There is a Roman Tomb at Dwejra Bay which popular with bathers, derives its fame from a singular rock that shelters it.  Few rocks can claim the historical prominence of this 65 meter high megalith known as Gebla tal -General( General's rock) or Fungus Rock. 

The importance comes from a minute plant that has been mistaken for fungus. Botanically known as Cynomorium Coccineum, the mysterious red plant with tiny flowers was once believed to have great healing powers. It was applied to cure various sicknesses, diseases and internal injury symptoms. 

Map of

Xlendi Bay

More Pictures of Xlendi