Fascinated with Gozo Island, I enjoyed a full-day overland tour of its treasures. North of Valletta and Comino, at the northern end of the Archipelago, Gozo is Malta’s second largest island. Locals say they can see Sicilian lights on a clear night.
In six hours, we covered most of the island, and I took tons of photos – few are captioned. When there’s time, I’ll sort them out. Gozo has everything – beautiful Baroque limestone architecture, blue lagoons, sandy/rocky coves and bays, towering cliffs, and pristine beaches! It’s a very beautiful place! Weather was great but windy at times. It rained later in the day, just as the tour ended.
_____________
“Gozo has been given many titles. Perhaps the most apt is the ‘Island of Churches’. Spanning 67 sq. kilometres (26 sq. miles), the island has 50+ churches and chapels sprawled around the towns and villages – a church for almost every kilometre.” Visit Gozo
_____________
Some points of interest toured are listed below. It was a long day! After exploring several unbelievably spectacular churches, I gave up trying to remember names and details – everything seemed to meld together. There are legends and stories about the island, including miraculous religious healings. The links below provide more detailed info:
- Qala Belvedere
- Ramla Valley
- Ramla Bay
- Xewkija Rotunda Church
- Ġgantija Temples
- Sanap Cliffs
- Xlendi Bay
- Dwejra
- Fungus Rock
- Inland Sea
- Ta’ Pinu National Shrine
- Marsalforn Bay
- Saltpans
- Victoria Gozo Capital City
- Cittadella Ancient Fortified City
Navigating from my apartment in Qormi to Gozo Mġarr Harbour took a few hours and was tricky. It involved first catching an uber to a tour bus pickup area near Floriana marina followed by a 30-minute drive to a connecting ferry that took us to Mġarr Harbor. The group was mostly European from France, Poland, Germany, and UK. Gozo Chanel provided surprise choppy patches of sea during the 45-minute ferry ride. A few got seasick.🤮
Watchtowers
The Knights of St John left Gozo a “collection of ten historic watchtowers, dotted around the outskirts of the island“. The towers served as a communication system, providing the knights with a 360-degree view of the surrounding waters. Notable watchtowers include the Mgarr ix-Xini Tower in Xewkija, Xlendi Tower, Dwejra Tower, and San Blas Tower in Nadur.
After we reached Gozo, the overland tour proceeded via six-seater UTVs. Reckless Gozo drivers are absolutely insane, but our guide, a Gozo native, effortlessly zipped through traffic and over rough overland terrain – demonstrating his familiarity with the area. The narrative was limited, so I’ll do some research.
Landscape
Gozo has picture-postcard beaches and is a popular spot for swimming, diving, and snorkeling in the Mediterranean Sea. At first glance, the coastal landscape seems barren, but closer examination reveals many interesting low-growing, drought-resistant plants.
Aleppo Pine, Evergreen Oak, olive, and citrus are the most common trees on the island. Gigantic budding prickly pear cactus bushes are everywhere, and caper bushes flourish in the local Mediterranean climate. Capers are dormant now, but plants are protruding from limestone walls all over the island.
The rocky coastline is surrounded by massive limestone cliffs, natural springs, freshwater pools, salt pans, and fertile valleys like Il-Lunzjata. Endemic flora includes Maltese “Rock-Centaury, Hyoseris Frutescens, and Helichrysum Melitense”. Many plants were blooming, so spring wildflower season must be fantastic!
_____________
” Lunzjata Valley is one of Gozo’s most charming and dreamlike places. Boasting fairy tale features, such as a medieval chapel partially built into a cave, an old fountain, and a thick-walled archway at its entrance, it feels like something out of a fantasy world.” Island of Gozo
_____________
Gozo practices ecological conservation to preserve its native flora. The island has Natura 2000 sites – “breeding and resting places for rare, threatened species and protected natural habitat”.
Churches, Basilicas, Chapels, Landmarks
Gozo’s deeply-rooted Catholic heritage is evident by the island’s 50+ churches and chapels. They range from “monumental basilicas that dominate the skyline to small, secluded rural chapels”. Architecture is mostly Baroque and Neo-Romanesque.
Religious miracles on Gozo center around Ta’ Pinu National Shrine near Għarb. The church became known as a “church of miracles” after a reputed apparition in 1883. The story is of Karmni Grima, who claimed to hear the voice of the Virgin Mary. This led to numerous reported healings, ex-voto offerings, and national devotion.
Gozo basilicas and landmarks briefly explored include:
- Xewkija Rotunda (St. John the Baptist) – world’s 3rd-largest unsupported dome
- St. George’s Basilica – Baroque marble masterpiece
- Gozo Cathedral of the Assumption – inside Victoria Cittadella
- Nadur Parish Church of St. Peter & St. Paul – ornate marble walls
- Għajnsielem Parish Church – Gothic church overlooking Mġarr Harbor
- Xagħra Parish Church Nativity of Our Lady – Baroque church
- Corpus Christi Parish Church Għasri – surrounded by cultivated fields
- Chapel of San Dimitri – on a Għarb cliff
Belgrade Next
Posts from Malta have only covered a few places explored. There’s limited time to describe everything. I leave Malta on Saturday to a favorite, familiar place – Belgrade Serbia. From there, I’ll relax, enjoy Belgrade’s high-quality performing arts, and plan the next stop. More later…