Have you ever heard of Gozo? This island is part of the Maltese archipelago, just north of Malta. It has a surface of 67 square kilometers only and is home to about 37,000 people who speak their own dialect.
Lovers of Greek mythology believe the story that Gozo is the real version of the legendary island of Ogygia, where Odysseus meets the nymph Calypso.
During our stay in Sliema we didn’t have a car and so we decided to book a day trip to Gozo and Comino. The boat ride with a catamaran lasted more than an hour and we arrived at the ferry terminal of Mgarr harbor where we could see the famous Ghajnsielem church on the top of a hill.
Unfortunately, our trip did not include a visit to the Ggantija temples, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. However, we got the opportunity to visit Victoria, the most attractive town of Gozo and unofficially the capital city of the island. During our short bus trip, we discovered that Gozo is much greener and quieter than Malta and also more authentic.
Victoria was initially called Rabat. This name, ’ir-Rabat’ in Maltese comes from the Arabic word ’ribat’, meaning stronghold or fortification, probably referring to the citadel. The name Victoria was given to the town in 1887 in honour of the famous British Queen’s Golden Jubilee. However, most locals still refer to it as Rabat.
Victoria is a small city with 7,000 inhabitants only, but it has a few noteworthy places to see. The top historical attraction is the citadel, also known as Castello. It has been inhabited since the Bronze Age and there is evidence that this area was an acropolis for the Roman city of Gaulos. A castle was built on top of the Acropolis in the medieval period, but in 1551, the Ottomans invaded and destroyed the Citadel. The Knights of Malta reconstructed the castle in the 16th century and built a gunpowder fortress on the top of the hill. The view from the highest point of the Citadel is breathtaking.
We took a walk through Republic Street, the city’s main street where we could see the Villa Rundle Gardens and two small opera theatres.
After having explored the old town with its labyrinth of narrow colorful streets and alleys, we grabbed a cup of coffee and traditional ’pastizzi’ (pastry) in one of the local cafes on St. George’s Square. We also visited St. George’s Basilica, a 17th-century church with a lot of gold and details in its interior.
The most beautiful church of Victoria appeared to be the Cathedral of the Assumption, outside the citadel. It was built between 1697-1711 in Baroque style. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to visit it, as we had to continue our trip to Comino.
Comino – also known as Kemmuna – is the smallest of the inhabited islands in the archipelago of Malta. It has been home to farmers since the Roman era. The Knights of Malta arrived in 1530 and used the island for relaxation and hunting wild boars and hares. Comino was the place where errant knights who misbehaved has to serve their sentences. Nowadays, Comino is mostly uninhabited: only one family resides on the island, the Vella family.
What to say about Comino’s Blue Lagoon, a highly popular bay known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters? This lagoon – nestled between Comino and the small islet of Cominotto – is accessible by boat or guided tour only. Since 2025, visitors must prebook their visit in order to avoid overcrowding. The landing permit is free of charge but is subject to a time slot. Before our trip, we were provided a wristband that we had to show at the landing place.
Honestly speaking, I was flabbergasted. The place was crowded indeed. Although the air temperature was 17-18 degrees Centigrade only, many young people were sunbathing on the rocks, drinking cocktails from hollowed-out pineapples and some of them were also swimming in the transparent sea. The atmosphere was relaxed and joyful. But I can imagine how crowded it will be during the summer months…
Avoiding the crowds, we took a walk around the island. The trail led through Mediterranean vegetation and rock formations. Continuing further south, we reached several picturesque small beaches among the rocks.
On our boat ride back to Sliema, we got aware of the fact that Comino and the Blue Lagoon should be considered as a paradise for young people. However, culture and history lovers will find a lot of interesting attractions when visiting Gozo.