Why Gozo
Gozo, known historically as Gaulos and in Maltese as Għawdex, is an island in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to the Republic of Malta. Occupying 67 square kilometres, it is the second-largest landmass in the Maltese archipelago. The island maintains a rural character that is less developed than mainland Malta, and its terrain is marked by prominent rolling hills that are depicted on its official coat of arms. In 2021, Gozo recorded a population of 39,287 residents, with 7,242 people living in the capital city of Victoria.
Human settlement on Gozo dates back to approximately 5000 BC, when agricultural settlers from Sicily arrived and occupied local caves around San Lawrenz. Over the centuries, the island was controlled by the Carthaginians, Romans, and the Knights Hospitalier. Following a July 1551 Ottoman attack that resulted in the enslavement and deportation of most of the 5,000 inhabitants, Gozo was repopulated by mainland Maltese. It briefly held independence after the French surrendered in 1798 before becoming a British Protectorate and later a Crown colony. Modern local administration includes 14 individual local councils and governance under the Ministry of Gozo.
Gozo possesses notable historical, mythic, and religious landmarks. Local tradition and early Greek writers associate the island with Ogygia, the mythical home of Calypso mentioned in Homer's writings. It houses the Neolithic Ġgantija temples, which stand among the oldest surviving free-standing religious structures globally, as well as the ancient Xagħra Stone Circle. The island constitutes its own Roman Catholic diocese and features major structures such as the sanctuary of Ta' Pinu near Għarb and the Rotunda of Xewkija, which can accommodate 3,000 people and features a dome larger than that of St Paul's Cathedral in London.
Geographically, Gozo is recognized as a premier Mediterranean location for diving and maritime sports. The coastline features the Inland Sea, the Wied il-Mielaħ Window, and sandy shores such as Ramla Bay in Xagħra and Nadur. The natural arch known as the Azure Window in Dwejra was a major geological site until it collapsed in March 2017. Coastal resort towns like Marsalforn and Xlendi serve as popular destinations for visitors and residents alike.
Access to Gozo is maintained by sea links, as fixed-wing airstrip proposals were turned down for environmental reasons and helicopter flights stopped in 2006. Regular ferries convey passengers, vehicles, and freight between Mġarr on Gozo and Ċirkewwa in Malta, while fast passenger catamarans connect Mġarr directly to Valletta. On the island, transit options include public buses, hop-on tourist buses, taxis, rental cars, and walking paths.
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