Gozo is the second largest island of the Maltese Archipelago, which is located in the Mediterranean between Sicily and North Africa. This beautiful and tranquil island with its rural and rustic charm is a haven to those visitors who want a break from a busy and hectic lifestyle. Despite its small size (just 9 miles by 4!) and leisurely pace of life, the island has much to offer its visitors. Gozo’s landscape features deep valleys, rolling green hills and a rugged coastline with a mixture of sand and rock beaches. The island is rich in history with many places of cultural, architectural and archeological interest.
A trip to Dwejra, on the west coast, is well worth it to see the intriguing coastline with its towering cliffs, caves and dramatic rock formations. The Inland Sea is a cliff-bound lagoon of seawater linked to the Mediterranean by a narrow tunnel through the cliffs. When the weather is calm visitors can take boat trips through the tunnel to view the caves and cliffs on the open sea side. Boat trips to view the Azure Window and Fungus Rock also leave from the Inland Sea. The Azure Window, which can also be viewed from the coast, is a spectacular natural landmark. The result of thousands of years of wind and sea erosion which have carved a hole through the narrow headland creating a 50m high rock arch or "window". It is a particularly stunning site when the sea is rough and the waves crash high against the inner rock of the arch. At the centre of Dwejra bay is Fungus Rock. During the time of the Knights of St. John this rock was closely guarded because the fungus was believed to have healing properties and the Knights imposed a penalty of death on anyone trying to steal it. The rock is not easily accessible due to the shear, high cliffs and so the Knights used a man carrying hoist system erected between the mainland and the island so that the fungus could be gathered. There are also a number of really popular dive sites within this area. The blue hole has been voted one of the top 10 Europe dives and underwater drop offs, arches, chimneys and caves make for an impressive dive.
There is a strong religious culture in Gozo, the evidence of which is the many churches and chapels to be found on the island. Mostly of Baroque or Romanesque style the most impressive of these is the basilica of Ta'Pinu, outside the village of Gharb. Built between 1920 and 1931, this national shrine and church of pilgrimage stands 47metres high and is considered an architectural masterpiece. The interior showcases beautiful sculptures, craftsmanship and design. It is one of the most visited sites in Gozo, by locals and tourists alike.
The Ggantija Temples, at Xaghra are a megalithic temple complex and the world's oldest free-standing structures that pre-date Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids. Not only is it remarkable for its age, but the complexity and proportion of the structures required considerable technical skill. The temples are also known as the Place of Giants and legend has it they were transported to the island by the giantess Sansuna.
Calypso's cave, close to Xaghra, is widely believed to be the cave referred to in Homer's Odyssey, where the beautiful nymph Calypso held Ulysses prisoner for seven years. Calypso promised him immortality if he remained with her, but he escaped to return to his faithful wife Penelope. The view from the cave is breathtaking and overlooks the beautiful, golden-red, sand beach of Ramla. Nino and Xerri are another two caves with interesting stalactite and stalagmite formations. Both are located under residential buildings in the village of Xaghra.
Written by Rona Guiney of Premier Holidays. Premier Holidays offer a wide selection of luxury holiday villas in Gozo.
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