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The Neighborhood

The small island of Gozo, just off Malta, is a place of beautiful scenery, ancient heritage and magnificent beaches. With a population of only 37,000 – around 7,000 of those in the capital, Rabat – it will never feel overwhelmingly crowded. Accessible via ferry from its neighbour, the crossing to Gozo takes around 25 minutes and denotes a real change of place. When in Rabat, often known as Victoria, you have plenty of historic sights to choose from. The main attraction is the breathtaking St George’s Basilica, a church of magnificent art and architecture to match. The Citadel of this medieval hilltop city is not only an impressive construction but offers some stunning panoramic views across the countryside and out to sea. The island’s best shopping can also be found in Victoria. One of the newest malls, The Duke Plaza, offers a wide range of fashion stores, while nearby Arkadia even offers Waitrose products at its food store. A daily market which takes place on Independence Square should fill in any gaps, offering a vast range of goods including fresh local produce. Thought to be the best beach on Gozo, Ramla-I-Hamra is well worth heading north for. With good facilities and a wide stretch of sand, its views are particularly magnificent. Dwerja is another popular choice. While the Azure Window arch which once drew the crowds has now sadly collapsed, Dwerja is still a wonderfully scenic spot. An attractive lagoon, the ‘Inland Sea’, offers a nice place for a swim. There are many more sights you won’t want to miss. Among them, the towering Ta’Cenc cliffs near Sannat. At 130m high, make the walk from the village and you’ll be rewarded with some fine views along the way too. In the village of Zewkija, you have Gozo’s largest religious monument – the church’s landmark dome alone is 74m tall, so you can see it for miles.