Ferry Service The Gozo Channel Company operates an all year Ro Ro Ferry service between Cirkewwa Malta and Mgarr Gozo. Journey time is approximately 20 minutes.
GOZO, or GHAWDEX [Awdesch] as it is locally known, lies about 20 minutes away by ferry. Measuring about one third the size of Malta it has a character quite distinct from Malta; it is primarily a fishing and farming community and the countryside is greener and more spectacular . Thanks to controls over building developments, Gozo still looks intact and mostly unspoilt. Flat-topped hills and intensely cultivated fields characterize the landscape whilst the coast has rugged cliffs, steep valleys and beautiful inlets.
Ggantija Temples in Xaghra, Gozo, are one of the most important archaeological sites in Malta. The origins of Ggantija date back to the Ggantija phase (3600 – 3200 B.C.). John Otto Bayer was the first to excavate the temples in 1827. Extensive archaeological and restoration work was carried out in the early 20th century to ensure their preservation. The Ggantija megalithic complex consists of two temples surrounded by a massive common boundary wall. One of the most striking features of the entire complex, the boundary wall, is built using the alternating header and stretcher technique, with some of the megaliths exceeding five metres in length and weighing over fifty tons. The earliest megalithic temples were build on a trefoil plan and three component apsidal chambers arranged on three sides of a square central court. The fourth side was laid out as the entrance, the outside of which was extended to right and left to form a concave façade to the whole building. These early temples were enlarged, altered, or rebuilt, involving the addition of further sets of lateral chambers and the reduction of the central terminal chamber to form a shallow recess, or niche, for the main altar. These were the general lines of development which, however, were not necessarily followed in each and every case.
RABAT [aka Victoria] the main town, is dominated by the Citadel, a fortification designed to safeguard the local population against the constant threat of piracy in the early centuries. The Bastions offer an unparalleled view of Gozo, stretching almost 360 degrees. During sunset, the view of the Citadel itself and of Ta’ Pinu church is the stuff of postcards; grab your cameras and capture them if you can.
The Citadel is built on one of the many flat-topped hills in the centre of Gozo. It’s origins can be traced to the latter part of the Middle Ages. Up until 1637 the people of Gozo had to take shelter within the Citadel’s walls after sunset, due to the frequent Turkish assaults on the island. In 1551 a strong Turkish force overwhelmed the Citadel and carried 6000 of the inhabitants away into slavery. Only 300 Gozitans managed to escape before the capitulation. The walls themselves date from the 16th to the 18th century. Most of the buildings inside the Citadel are in ruins, but the Old Courts of Law and the Old Governor’s Palace are still used as the Law Courts of Gozo. Also there are the Old Prisons with the Armoury of the Knights, the Archeological Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Folklore Museum. The Cathedral with the Bishop’s Palace and the Cathedral Museum dominate the Citadel. The Cathedral was designed by the Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa, in the form of a Latin cross. It was built between 1697 and 1711 on the site of an older church. The Folklore Museum is housed in three late medieval style houses featuring the influence of Sicilian architecture. Exhibits consist of agricultural implements, items related to the cotton industry, tools used in different crafts and some traditional costumes. All archeological material found on Gozo is on display in the Archeological Museum, a 17th century house, known as “Casa Bondi”. Of special interest are shreds of the Ghar Dalam phase 5000 BC found at Ghajn Abdul, probably the oldest ever found on the Maltese Islands. Also on display are Punic-Hellenistic pottery statuettes, amphorae and anchors.
Lunch
XLENDI. Xlendi is a small village with a small land-locked sandy and pebbly beach, on the west side of the Island. It is tucked away under towering cliffs and has a fjord like character to it. Slightly smaller than Marsalforn, Xlendi has all the amenities for visitors. The pedestrianized Sea front can get quite busy during lunch time and at night when al fresco dining is de riguer during the balmy summer evenings. It’s also ideally placed for a Sundown or two
After Lunch will visit
Dwejra: the Inland Sea and Fungus Rock
At Dwejra on Gozo’s southern coastline is a superb natural phenomenon, the Inland Sea. Set in a deep recess in the rock coastline, the Inland Sea is a large expanse of shallow water linked to the sea outside through a narrow tunnel in the cliff. On calm days small fishing boats carry visitors out to sea through the narrow fissure, in order to see Fungus Rock and the Azure Window. Divers often use the Inland Sea as their shore base for exploring some of the most exciting deep waters around Gozo
Fungus Rock
Known also as il-Gebla tal-General (the General’s Rock), Fungus Rock stands proudly and menacingly in the sweeping bay alongside the Inland Sea. It was here that Fungus Gaulitanus, a fungus much prised by the Knights for its medicinal powers, once grew. This rare plant was for centuries kept under constant guard and anyone caught stealing it was instantly put to death. It was so prized that it was often presented as a precious gift to distinguished noblemen and visitors to the islands.
Due to the height and the sheer sides of the tall rock it was almost impossible to scale these from the sea, so the Knights erected a hoist that could carry a man to its flat top from the nearby watchtower on land
Return back to the island of Malta
For further information kindly contact Gordon on warl@go.net.mt
