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Cittadella
The Cittadella is a small, fortified city that lies in the heart of Victoria on the island of Gozo. This area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age and in the medieval era it was known as the Gran Castello. It has been at the centre of activity on the island since possibly Neolithic times and was certainly fortified during the Bronze Age around 1500 BC. It was later developed by the Phoenicians and in Roman times it was a complex Acropolis. Gozo was a privileged Roman Municipality, independent of Malta, and the citadel was the centre of its administrative as well as its military and religious life. An important temple to the goddess Juno stood where the cathedral now stands.
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Cittadella
The Cittadella is a small, fortified city that lies in the heart of Victoria on the island of Gozo. This area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age and in the medieval era it was known as the Gran Castello. It has been at the centre of activity on the island since possibly Neolithic times and was certainly fortified during the Bronze Age around 1500 BC. It was later developed by the Phoenicians and in Roman times it was a complex Acropolis. Gozo was a privileged Roman Municipality, independent of Malta, and the citadel was the centre of its administrative as well as its military and religious life. An important temple to the goddess Juno stood where the cathedral now stands.
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Rabat Suburbs
Victoria, also known as Rabat or by its title Città Victoria, is the capital city of Gozo. Rabat is situated on a hill near the centre of the island with all roads in Gozo leading to it. The area around the city has been established since Neolithic times. Victoria was the name given to the city on 10th June 1887 by the British government on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, at the request of the Bishop of Malta, Mons. Sir Pietro Pace. However, many Gozitans today still often refer to it as Rabat. Victoria is not just the geographic heart of Gozo, it is also the centre of everyday activity. It manages to combine the bustle of its market and shops with a relaxed and sociable atmosphere, being a great place to watch the islanders go about their day.
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Rabat Suburbs
Victoria, also known as Rabat or by its title Città Victoria, is the capital city of Gozo. Rabat is situated on a hill near the centre of the island with all roads in Gozo leading to it. The area around the city has been established since Neolithic times. Victoria was the name given to the city on 10th June 1887 by the British government on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, at the request of the Bishop of Malta, Mons. Sir Pietro Pace. However, many Gozitans today still often refer to it as Rabat. Victoria is not just the geographic heart of Gozo, it is also the centre of everyday activity. It manages to combine the bustle of its market and shops with a relaxed and sociable atmosphere, being a great place to watch the islanders go about their day.
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Ramla Bay
Ramla Bay is located at the bottom of a rich and fertile valley on the northern side of the island of Gozo. The beach is quite wide and sandy. Its particularly golden-reddish sand makes this beach different from all others in Gozo and Malta. Its real Maltese name is Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra — the Red Sandy Beach. The area around the beach is quite interesting and provides some very rich historical treasures. Roman remains lay beneath the sand and the famous Calypso Cave overlooks the western side of the beach.
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Ramla Bay
Ramla Bay is located at the bottom of a rich and fertile valley on the northern side of the island of Gozo. The beach is quite wide and sandy. Its particularly golden-reddish sand makes this beach different from all others in Gozo and Malta. Its real Maltese name is Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra — the Red Sandy Beach. The area around the beach is quite interesting and provides some very rich historical treasures. Roman remains lay beneath the sand and the famous Calypso Cave overlooks the western side of the beach.
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Xlendi
Xlendi is a village situated in the south west of the island of Gozo. Xlendi Bay is three kilometres away from Victoria on the southwest side of the island. This beautiful inlet with its sandy beach is ideal as a swimming spot for both young and old. For many years this bay used to be a fishing village, but recently it has been transformed into a popular tourist destination. As a tourist resort, it is equipped with several tourist-oriented amenities such as bars, souvenir shops, restaurants, holiday flats and hotels.
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Xlendi
Xlendi is a village situated in the south west of the island of Gozo. Xlendi Bay is three kilometres away from Victoria on the southwest side of the island. This beautiful inlet with its sandy beach is ideal as a swimming spot for both young and old. For many years this bay used to be a fishing village, but recently it has been transformed into a popular tourist destination. As a tourist resort, it is equipped with several tourist-oriented amenities such as bars, souvenir shops, restaurants, holiday flats and hotels.
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Dwejra Bay
The name ‘Dwejra’ is derived from a small house that was built on the cliffs surrounding the inland sea. This bay has rare geological features both on the land and in the sea with rich and diverse wildlife and habitats, dramatic seascapes dominated by a rocky shoreline and a general wilderness feel. Dwejra is renowned both for its interesting geology and also for its fascinating underwater scenery.
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Dwejra Bay
The name ‘Dwejra’ is derived from a small house that was built on the cliffs surrounding the inland sea. This bay has rare geological features both on the land and in the sea with rich and diverse wildlife and habitats, dramatic seascapes dominated by a rocky shoreline and a general wilderness feel. Dwejra is renowned both for its interesting geology and also for its fascinating underwater scenery.
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Azure Window site
The Azure window was a natural arch that looks like a table over the sea. Two almost perpendicular vertical rocks held a huge horizontal mass over them, the result of two sea cave collapses, as well as the wind and wave action on the rocks. Unfortunately this structure collapsed in February 2017. Today the ruins of the Azure Window have become a major diving site. The Azure Window attracted a huge number of visitors and inspires many artists who painted the magical site on canvas. It was also featured in the movies “The Clash of the Titans” and “The Count of Monte Cristo”.
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Azure Window site
The Azure window was a natural arch that looks like a table over the sea. Two almost perpendicular vertical rocks held a huge horizontal mass over them, the result of two sea cave collapses, as well as the wind and wave action on the rocks. Unfortunately this structure collapsed in February 2017. Today the ruins of the Azure Window have become a major diving site. The Azure Window attracted a huge number of visitors and inspires many artists who painted the magical site on canvas. It was also featured in the movies “The Clash of the Titans” and “The Count of Monte Cristo”.
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Inland Sea
The Inland Sea, known as Il-Qawra by the locals, constitutes the lowest spot in Gozo. The Inland Sea is an area of shallow water set in a deep recess in the rock coastline produced by the caving in of the surface above the subterranean caves. The pool is connected to the outside sea by means of a narrow, sixty metre-long tunnel through the cliffs. With small fishing boats you can travel out to sea through the tunnel and visit ‘Fungus Rock’, where medieval knights grew medicinal plants.
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Inland Sea
The Inland Sea, known as Il-Qawra by the locals, constitutes the lowest spot in Gozo. The Inland Sea is an area of shallow water set in a deep recess in the rock coastline produced by the caving in of the surface above the subterranean caves. The pool is connected to the outside sea by means of a narrow, sixty metre-long tunnel through the cliffs. With small fishing boats you can travel out to sea through the tunnel and visit ‘Fungus Rock’, where medieval knights grew medicinal plants.
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Ġgantija Temples
At more than 5,000 years old, the Ġgantija temples on Gozo are the oldest temples in the Maltese Islands, predating the pyramids of Egypt during the old kingdom and Stonehenge. These remarkably well-preserved temples are located in the outskirts of the beautiful village of Xagħra and consist of two temples dating back between 3,600 and 3,200 years BC. The Ġgantija temples are a UNESCO world Heritage Site.
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Ġgantija Temples
At more than 5,000 years old, the Ġgantija temples on Gozo are the oldest temples in the Maltese Islands, predating the pyramids of Egypt during the old kingdom and Stonehenge. These remarkably well-preserved temples are located in the outskirts of the beautiful village of Xagħra and consist of two temples dating back between 3,600 and 3,200 years BC. The Ġgantija temples are a UNESCO world Heritage Site.
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Ta' Pinu
The Sanctuary of Ta’ Pinu is an architectural masterpiece built in open fields in the valley between the villages of Gharb and Ghammar. It is a shrine to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu that welcomes all the visitors who wish to pray or simply admire the splendid sculptures and craftsmanship of designs in Maltese stone inside the church. Ta’ Pinu’s origin is unknown but the first records of a chapel date back to 1534. This place of prayer was built by the noble family of the Gentili (The Gentile) in devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption.
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Ta' Pinu
The Sanctuary of Ta’ Pinu is an architectural masterpiece built in open fields in the valley between the villages of Gharb and Ghammar. It is a shrine to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu that welcomes all the visitors who wish to pray or simply admire the splendid sculptures and craftsmanship of designs in Maltese stone inside the church. Ta’ Pinu’s origin is unknown but the first records of a chapel date back to 1534. This place of prayer was built by the noble family of the Gentili (The Gentile) in devotion to Our Lady of the Assumption.
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Mgarr Harbour
A visit to Malta’s sister Island is a must for anyone but the very shortest trip to the Maltese Islands and the ferry trip is a reward in itself, cruising past cliff scenery and the spectacularly positioned early seventeenth century St Mary’s tower on Comino. But perhaps the highlight is the magnificent view when drawing into Mgarr harbour on Gozo. The small harbour town of Mgarr is quintessentially Mediterranean in its look and atmosphere, charming and warm feeling from the very first glance.
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Mgarr Harbour
A visit to Malta’s sister Island is a must for anyone but the very shortest trip to the Maltese Islands and the ferry trip is a reward in itself, cruising past cliff scenery and the spectacularly positioned early seventeenth century St Mary’s tower on Comino. But perhaps the highlight is the magnificent view when drawing into Mgarr harbour on Gozo. The small harbour town of Mgarr is quintessentially Mediterranean in its look and atmosphere, charming and warm feeling from the very first glance.