Here’s a list of 10 extraordinary sights to visit and explore while you’re on holiday in Gozo. Make sure your list of things to do in Gozo includes some of these ideas.
If you’re up for a rough walk along the coast, you can take a trip to Bemberin beach, located off an arduous path that starts at Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay. Trudging to the inlet, which has its own cave and pebbly beach, requires proper footwear, but it is one of those views that few ever set their eyes on. If such walks are too stressful, you can opt to check out the more accessible hidden beach San Filep. These hidden and remote Gozo beaches are amazing things to see while on the island.
It’s easy to miss the fertile Lunzjata Valley especially if this is your first holiday in Gozo. Nestled between Victoria and the village of Kerċem, Lunzjata Valley was originally a hunting spot for the Knights of St. John. The valley has an arched entrance, quaint chapel and water fountain where farmers wash their produce for the market. On the right-hand side of the valley, a steep staircase leading to the village of Kerċem chiselled out of the rock gives the place the feeling of looking at times gone by.
Since the Xewkija windmill is planted on a main road, it is impossible to miss the 300-year-old octagonal structure that comes complete with sails. Stopping by to explore the recently-restored inside is another experience as you will get a glimpse of an engineering feat, and you might also get a feel of the Gozitan folklore.
There’s no denying that the hub of the island is Independence Square. Its Maltese name, It-Tokk, means meeting place, as this was the de facto place where the islanders met. At the foot of the Citadel, this square was also the marketplace in Rabat. Marked also by the Christ the King memorial honouring the Gozitan victims of World War II, this square remains the perfect spot for a coffee or catching up with friends.
The way to Ta’ Pinu is undoubtedly marked by the aqueducts that are standing today. They are the remains of a channel that transported freshwater from the hill of Għar Ilma to reservoirs in Victoria. The aqueduct, a British engineering feat, is earmarked for restoration, and in the meantime, the arches provide the perfect backdrop for the Gozitan countryside snapshot!
If you’re keen on capturing views, head to Ta’ Kenuna Tower in Nadur. Like other towers of its era, the tower is built on a vantage point. The semaphore tower was once part of a mechanical system for relaying messages from Gozo to Valletta. This tower was in direct line of sight of the signalling stations of Selmun and Ħal Għargħur in Malta. The colonial times are an important part of Gozo’s history, and the semaphore, along with the Aqueducts, the lighthouse and other structures, dating back to that time.
Ta’ Ċenċ cliffs which keep stringing and rumbling onto Sanap cliffs, eventually leading to Xlendi bay, are a favourite haunt of many. Nature lovers, photographers, adventure enthusiasts and poets on holiday in Gozo should all take time to visit. The plateau is like an unreal place where land, sea and sky meet, and it has a vibe that changes according to the weather and time of day. The stillness of daybreak, the insect hum at noon, the occasional screech of the seagulls and the various bird calls culminate at sunset when the fiery red sun fizzes into the sea.
Don’t miss a quick stop at the l-Għajn il-Kbira (the large fountain) on the way to Xlendi. The running fresh water in the area made it the ideal place for washing laundry. Gozo’s history records show that the spring in the area dates back to 1373, and the washhouse has been standing since 1685.
A short but steep walk leads up to the recently restored lighthouse on Ta’ Ġurdan Hill, where the lighthouse that was built by the British colonial government still operates. The 21 kerosene lamps, which beamed out to more than 60 kilometres, are today replaced by modern technology. Still, it testifies to Malta’s strategic location serving as a Mediterranean naval hub and trading post.
On the way to Marsalforn, a country lane leads to the Merżuq Hill. Legend has it that the hill is a sleeping volcano, and today cone shape mound is dominated by a gigantic statue of Christ the Saviour (Is-Salvatur). Even at night, the floodlit statue seems to stand as a protector of the island. The present statute is the third one to be erected here. The original succumbed to weathering over time, and the second was struck down during a lightning storm. The current statue, dating back to July 1979, is the work of Carmel Grech, who had used his young nephew Mario as a model. As time unfolded, Mario would become the bishop of Gozo and today, he is a Cardinal of the Catholic Church serving at the Vatican.