Stepping onto the island of Gozo feels like you’ve gone a bit back in time. Old men meeting up early in the morning and spending a whole day at the village square, below the ringing bells of the dominant parish church. Farmers going to work on their slow moving harvester, in the middle of what should be an urban road. The countryside… the country views… Maybe it’s because I come from an over developed island. But for me, all these things keep me coming back year after year.
Gozo is a very tiny island in the middle of the Mediterranean. It has a population of around 31,000 people. Being just over 20 minutes by ferry away from Malta, for me it is the place where I go to get some peace and quiet. And if you like nature, the sea, a bit of trekking or simply having a nice lunch with an amazing view, then this island might be for you too :)
The below are some of my favourite views, in no particular order. Views that never cease to amaze me, even though I’ve seen them like a gazillion times.
The Aqueducts
The Gozitan aqueducts
Tucked away on the side of the road, from Victoria to L-Gharb are these beautiful ruins. Used during the 1800s by the British to transport water from Kercem to Victoria, this structure, now lies useless but magnificent for all of us to see. Try to visit them during sunset - trust me. It’s spectacular!
Pjazza San Gorg, Rabat
Saint George square in Rabat
This is a tiny village square in the middle of Rabat, also known as Victoria, which is the capital city of Gozo. To get here you need to go through tiny alleys, which ultimately lead up to this charming square. With three cafeterias and a very dominant church, this square is always buzzing with both locals and tourists. While here, make sure to grab some pastizzi and a cup of tea (or coffee). Sit down, enjoy some people watching, and absorb the calmness of the Gozitan lifestyle!
Mgarr port from the ferry
From the ferry
Mgarr port
This has to be one of the least appreciated views in Gozo. Everyone is busy getting ready to disembark the ferry. The excitement among the people is increasing, as the island is getting closer. But with this, people fail to acknowledge the beauty of this port. So I suggest that, unless you are parked at the front end of the ferry, stay on board and watch the view as the ferry docks in the port. Totally worth it!
L-Ghar tal-Mixta
Tal-Mixta Cave
Ramla bay is one of my top beaches in Gozo. Most of the beaches on this island are all undeveloped, retaining their natural beauty. However, this one is my favourite to swim in. Seeing the beach from this cave though (Ghar in Maltese means cave), is a whole other thing. So if it’s not too hot to handle, grab your trekking shoes, get yourself to this cave, and enjoy the view! (If it’s too hot, just go to the beach and chill!)
Wied il-Ghasri
Wied il-Ghasri
This one is a bit tricky to find. But hey, what is Google maps for if not to help us get to these kind of places? Wied means a valley, and this is a valley in which you can swim in. Cool, right? And not many people come to swim here. So you might have all this to yourself. Those 90 steps to get down here, are definitely worth it.
Dwejra at sunset
Dwejra sunset
This sunset has to be at the top of my list. Dwejra has been in the news two years ago, with the collapsing of the Azure window. It was devastating to hear, and people still go there to see where this beauty once stood. However, Dwejra has much more to offer than the Azure window. One of them being this sunset. Make an evening out of it. Grab a pizza, a bottle of wine, your favourite human, or humans, and watch this incredible scene. With the sounds of the waves crashing on the rocks, and the smell of salty water in the air, this is nature at its best. We are just grateful that we get to enjoy these beautiful moments in the company of our loved ones!
