Gozo & Comino
Gozo is Malta’s sister island and the second-largest of the archipelago. The landscape consists of flat-topped hills, steep valleys and rugged cliffs and villas that nestle among peach, lemon, olive and orange groves. In spring the island comes ablaze with the flowering hibiscus, oleander, mimosa and bougainvillaea. Some of the local crafts (lace and knitwear) are sold from the doorways of houses and on the street.
The capital of Gozo is Victoria (also known as Rabat), built by the Arabs on Castle Hill, which offers the visitor panoramic views of the whole island. The cathedral has no dome, but inside, a trompe l’oeil painting on its ceiling gives the illusion of a dome. There is also a cathedral museum. The Museum of Archaeology contains Roman remains from a shipwreck on the island and items excavated from the neolithic temple at Ggantija.
Other places of interest on Gozo include the Citadel (‘Gran Castello’), with its historic bastions and old houses (one of them set up as a folk museum). There are alabaster caves at Xaghra, with stalactites and stalagmites. These underground caves are known as Xerri’s Grotto and Ninu’s Grotto. The basilica at Ta’Pinu, near the village of Gharb, is one of the most beautiful of Maltese churches and an official Vatican place of pilgrimage. Xewkija is a small town with a beautiful new church, built round the old parish Church of St John the Baptist.
The waters surrounding the island are unpolluted and crystal clear. The most important beaches are il-Qawra (better known as the inland sea, with a secluded pebbly bathing pool, crystal clear water and sheer cliffs), an unspoilt sandy beach known as Ir-Ramla il-Wamra and Xlendi Bay. In summer there are numerous festivals with fireworks and horseracing in the streets. Marsalforn is a fishing village on the north coast which has become one of Gozo’s most popular seaside resorts.
The island of Comino, thick with wild herbs (particularly cumin), lies between Malta and Gozo and is inhabited by probably no more than a dozen farmers. Paths which wind through the unusual rock formations provide the only communication links and the island is ideal for anyone seeking a very quiet holiday. A few sandy coves and small bays, such as Blue Lagoon, are the main attractions.
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