Archaeological sites
- Megalithic temples of Ggantija. They are considered the oldest free-standing buildings on Earth. Ggantija belongs to the Temple period and was built around 3500 BC. e. Location: Shara village (Xaghra)
- Archaeological Museum. Location: The Citadel, Victoria
- Dolmens and wagon tracks on the Ta’ Cenc plateau. Location: around the village of Sannat
Note: according to allcitypopulation, the population of Malta is 516,869 (2021).
The megalithic temples of Ggantija are considered to be the oldest free-standing buildings on Earth.
Historical landmarks
- The main fortification of Gozo, a kind of analogue of the Maltese Mdina. Nowadays, the Citadel is an open-air museum (although there are many museums on its territory and under the roof – archeology, folklore, natural sciences). The armory and the old prison, which have become sights, are also located there. And the fortress is decorated with the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady. Location: Victoria
- Watch towers. Location: On the coasts of Mgarr, Xlendi, San Lawrenz, Nadur. It is very difficult to get to them on your own, with the exception of Xlendi. More about towers:
- Mgarr ix-Xini Tower (Mgarr ix-Xini Tower) was built in the second half of the 17th century and protected the entrance to the narrow bay of Mjarr ish-Shini, a favorite hiding place of Muslim pirates. In 2000, it was restored by the Wirt Ghawdex Foundation.
- The Xlendi Watchtower was built in the second half of the 17th century and protected the Xlendi coast from corsairs, pirates and violators of the quarantine regime.
- Dwejra Tower was built in the second half of the 17th century and protected not only the low coast of Dwejra, but also access to the General’s Rock (Gebla tal-General). This rock was famous for the fact that a rare fungus melitensis grew on it, which was mistakenly attributed miraculous healing properties. Open for visits.
- The watchtower of San Blas (San Blas Tower), also known as the tower of Isopu (it-Torri ta’ Isopu) was built in the second half of the 17th century and guarded the bay of Dahlet Orrot. Open for visits.
- Fort Shambray. It was built in 1794 and was supposed to replace the dilapidated Citadel by that time, but this did not happen. It is currently a residential complex under construction. Where is: the vicinity of the village (port) Mgarr (Mgarr)
Religious/cultural sites
- Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady. The main temple of Gozo, stands on the territory of the Citadel. It was erected at the end of the 17th – beginning of the 18th century. Location: The Citadel, Victoria
- Ta’ Pinu National Marian Sanctuary. It was built in the 1920s on the site of the apparition of the Mother of God to a Gozitan woman named Karmni Grima. The cult of Madonna Ta’ Pinu is very popular in the islands. Location: between the villages of Arb (Gharb) and Asri (Ghasri)
- Chapel of St. Demetrius (St. Dimitri chapel). The date of construction is the second half of the 18th century. There are at least 3 legends associated with her, the most famous of which is about the old woman Zgugin, whose son was returned to St. Demetrius from pirate captivity. Location: near the village of Arb (Gharb)
- The parish church of the village of Shevkia (Xewkija church). The main temple of Shevkiah can be safely called “Gozitan’s answer to the temple in the Bridge.” Both temples are called “rotundas” because of the shape of the dome, and both are among the top ten European churches in terms of its volume. Location: Shevkiya village (Xewkija)
- Ta’ Kola windmill and folklore museum. It was built at the beginning of the 18th century by the Knights of St. John and was rented out to private individuals. This is one of the few windmills on the islands with wings. Location: Shara (Xaghra)
natural attractions
- The coast of Dwejra is one of the most popular attractions in Gozo due to the so-called. Azure Window (Azzure window) – a large natural arch. There is also the “Rock of the General” (Il-Gebla tal-General, aka Fungus Rock). A story is connected with it about an allegedly rare supposedly mushroom, to which miraculous healing properties were attributed. The inhabitants of the island, under pain of death, were forbidden to collect this plant, but there were daredevils who decided on a desperate act. The coast of Dweyr is a striking example of a landscape that is called karst and is characterized by sinkholes (valleys). One of them is the so-called. Inland sea (Inland sea). On its shore there are boats on which tourists ride through a tunnel that leads to the open sea. Location: around the village of San Lawrenz
- The coast and beach of Ramla Hamra. Famous for the color of its sand – a rich reddish-brown color. Rare sand dunes have been preserved here. It is also a very popular beach. According to Gozitan legend number one, near Ramla lived the mythological nymph Calypso, who held Odysseus captive for seven years on his way to Ithaca. There is even the so-called Calypso Cave, where tourists are specially brought. The entrance to the cave is currently closed. Location: near the village of Nadur
- Valley and beach Mgarr ix-Xini (Wied Mgarr ix-Xini). There is a small pebbly beach at the mouth of the Mgarr ix-Xini valley where you can swim and sunbathe, as well as have a snack in the fresh air. It is curious to walk along the Mjarr ish-Shini valley. At some point, it passes into the winding wadi Khanzira (“Pig”), which in shape resembles a strongly curved Latin S. Where it is located: the vicinity of the village of Shevkija (Xewkija)
- The coast and beach of Dahlet Qorrot bear the name of the holy hermit Kurrava (Korrot), who, according to legend, traveled from Malta to Comino, and from Comino to Gozo… on his cloak. On one of the coastal cliffs in this bay stands the San Blas Tower, also known as the Isopu Tower (it-Torri ta’ Isopu). Location: near the village of Nadur
- Hondoq ir-Rummien bay and beach is a small bay with a sandy beach where the water is the coldest in Gozo. Where is it located: the vicinity of the village of Ala (Qala)
- Hill of Nuffara. On this flat-topped hill, archaeologists have found the ruins of a Bronze Age settlement. Where is it located: the vicinity of the village of Shara (Xaghra
- The Asri Valley (Wied Ghasri) is one of the most beautiful semi-flooded valleys in the Maltese archipelago, an analogue of the Zurri Valley in the south of Malta, perhaps less known and therefore practically not spoiled by civilization. Location: Near the village of Asri (Ghasri)
- Milach valley. Did you know that the famous Azure Window of Gozitan has a worthy rival – a similar formation in the Milah Valley? It is located in the vicinity of the village of Arb (Gharb).
- Valley Lunzjata (Wied Lunzjata). One of the few “full-flowing” valleys of the Maltese Islands, where the stream running along its bottom does not dry up all year round. The entrance to it is decorated with gates, rather pompous for such a backwater, built by the Knights of St. John. In the valley itself there is a pretty chapel and an old fountain. Where is: the vicinity of the village of Kercem (Kercem)
- Cape Ekka (Heqqa Point). Known for several geological curiosities, the most memorable of which is a stone mushroom! Location: near the village of Arb (Gharb)
Diving on Gozo
The local “paradise” for divers is the Inland Sea, the waters of which are renewed through a natural tunnel in the rock. Another “diving” place is Xlendi, a small sandy beach in the southwest of the island, where two sheer cliffs form a natural bay with clear water. There are a couple of small hotels, several restaurants and, of course, a dive center.
