Gozo is the greener of the two main islands. Although only 7 kilometers
away from Malta the island has a distinct character of its own. The climate
is more or less the same as Malta’s
but being more rural and undeveloped the island is a lot quieter and has
a slower pace of life.
It has
a coastline of about 43km and is about 14km long by 8 km wide. Offering
a variety of sandy beaches, rocky
coves and high cliffs overlooking
beautiful clean seas the island is
truly a gem.
 Historical
places are strewn all over the island
with the most famous being the
Citadel and the Ggantija temples
the latter being the oldest
free standing stone structures in
the world and well worth a visit.
The Maltese islands are strewn with
the structural remains of early civilisations.
 The
citadel features a very old cathedral
which is surrounded by the remains
of old buildings, museums and
the impressive defensive bastion
walls where one can enjoy a wonderful
panorama of Gozo.
Down from the Citadel
one will find one of the main squares
of Victoria which has the daily market
place and numerous bars and cafes
which serve traditional Gozitan food
among others under the shade of the
trees.
Gozo is thought to be the legendary
Calypso’s isle in Homer’s
Odyssey and after visiting for the
first time it is evident why. Calypso’s
cave overlooks Ramla beach which
is Gozo’s biggest strip of
sand. This is probably the most famous
beach on the island because it features
the typical crystal clear, clean,
Gozitan sea.
The clear Mediterranean sea makes
Gozo a top diving destination. The
natural harbours, bays, creeks reefs,
caves and wrecks offer a great variety
of dives suitable for both the amateur
and experienced divers. Marine life
flourishes in abundance and include
groupers, octopus, flying fish, coral
and eels.
 The
capital Victoria, lies in the centre
of the island. It boasts the
dominant fortified old town and Citadel,
two splendid churches, namely St
George's Basilica and the Cathedral
dedicated to the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary, several small churches
and monasteries, two opera houses
and various urban commercial outlets.
The
Citadel is one of the most beautiful
architectural complexes on the Islands. Behind
its austere bastions the Citadel
hides a number of fine buildings,
museums and the Cathedral.
Villages in Gozo reflect a way of
life simultaneously rural and refined
with superbly proportioned squares
and carved balconies. From
the old traditional farmhouses with
their typical archways to the most
contemporary houses, the incredible
amount of architectural detail is
surprising in its creativity. Balconies
are embellished
with balustrades, flowerpots, Georgian
style facades, roof gardens and bougainvillea.
The countryside is recognized by its
traditional rubble walls and the
prickly pear hedges peeping over
or bordering terraced fields. Green
hills and fertile valleys separate
one village from the other. Wherever
you look, the sea is always within
the reach of the eye. In fact,
Gozo has an amazing coastline with
its tiny creeks, sand beaches, blue
sea, majestic rock formations and
protruding watchtowers. Low
lying coastal stretches of limestone,
are chequered with saltpans while
high and dramatic cliffs trigger
awesome emotions with their native
blend of salty air and wild herbs.
 At
the foot of the cliffs at Dwejra,
the Azure Window is the superb companion
to another interesting landmark Fungus
Rock upon which, recorded since the
times of the Knights of St. John,
grows a very unique type of fungus
with alleged therapeutic properties. Close
by, the Inland Sea provides a wonderful
opportunity for a boat trip with
a difference.
 On the opposite side of the Island,
look out for the unforgettable view
from Calypso Cave overlooking the
beautiful and distinguished red sands
of Ramla Bay. Also for those who
would not miss a chance for a swim,
a short stroll, or just to relax,
the crystal clear waters of Marsalforn
and Xlendi bays beckon the visitor's
appeal. Furthermore, Marsalforn and
Xlendi together with Mgarr Harbor
are Gozo's main fishing villages.
Being an island, the fishing industry
has been cared for since generations. No
wonder that there is no bay, which
does not shelter a variety of fishing
boats and with several boathouses
for their maintenance.
 The
rational fishing boat is the colorful
luzzu (pronounced 'lutsu') with its
normally blue bulwark and with the
eye of Osiris on white, red or brownish
background on the prow. Especially
when its calm, the reflection left
by berthed fishing boats on the water
inspires a lot of artists' imagination. Most
nostalgic is also the scene of vessels
leaving harbor at early dawn, or
while returning at sunset. The
image of luzzijiet with their bows
skimming through the calm blue water,
leaving behind streams of silver
ripples is simply unforgettable. The
day's catch is, apart from any romanticism,
obviously the toiling fisherman's
most important aspect of his trade.
 The
population of Gozo stands at about
28,000. The official language
is Maltese, which is spoken, in distinguished
dialect that amazingly differs slightly
from one village to another. As
applies for the whole Maltese islands,
the language has Semitic origins
and Romance influences, while the
English language stands as the second
official language.
 Gozo
could be reached in two ways; either
by Ferry or by Helicopter. The
most common is the ferry service
between Mgarr Harbor in Gozo and
Cirkewwa Harbor in Malta, with a
basically roll-on/roll-off schedule.
However, especially for those who
arrive from the Malta International
Airport, there is a convenient Helicopter
service operating between the Airport
and the Gozo Heliport and vice-versa.
Transport is provided by a fair service
of buses from Mgarr to Victoria and
vice-versa and from Victoria to all
towns and villages in Gozo. The
main bus terminus is situated in
Victoria and route numbers are on
the front of the buses. Taxi
stands are found in Victoria and
Mgarr. One
can also go around in hired cars,
motorbikes and bicycles. However,
when it is not too hot, Gozo's relatively
short travel distances, makes trekking
a worthwhile venture.
The climate is typically Mediterranean. It
is generally mild in winter save
for the first four to six weeks of
the year when it is normally a bit
cool, wet and sometimes unpredictable. The
average temperature for winter is
16 degrees Celsius and it covers
the period between December and March. Summer
is rather long, dry and sunny, with
August being the typically warmest
month. The
average temperature for summer is
25 degrees Celsius and it covers
the period between April and November.
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