Gozo is the second largest island of the Maltese archipelago. It is located north of Malta, behind the island of Comino. In English it is called "Gozo", and in Maltese - "Għawdex" (pronounced as Audes with the accent on the first syllable).

Gozo did not immediately find his current names. The Phoenicians, who first opened it and left information about it, called the island GWL (pronounced [goal]). The Greek name is Gaulos, which means "ship"; Roman - Gaulus, Byzantine - Gaudus, and, finally, the Arab Ghawdex and the Castilian Gozo. But one of the ferries that runs between Malta and Gozo, is called "Gaudos" - this is from which language? ..

But that's not all. Gozo is also an "island of three hills", "Calypso Island" and even "sister island"! As for the hills, there are actually more of them here than three (in general, from the walls of their main fortress, the Citadel, Gozo resembles a stormy sea with high waves). According to the legend, it was here that the nymph Calypso held Odysseus seven years in captivity (her name is a cave in the north of the island, a radio station, ketchup and, most likely, many other things). And Gozo's sister is in relation to Malta, and younger :-)

Gozo is home to about 31,000 people in 14 towns / villages.

Towns and villages of Gozo

Fontana (Fontana) , Għajnsielem (Ainsil), Għarb (Arb), Għasri (Asri), Kerċem (Kerch), Munxar (Munchar), Nadur (Nadur), Qala (Ala), San Lawrenz (San Laurentz), Sannat (Victoria), Xagħra (Shara), Xewkija (Shevkia), Żebbuġ (Zebbuj).

How to call

8-10-356-phone number

How to get to Gozo ±​​$ The

It was a long time ago when large dinghies floated between the islands of Malta and Gozo - dgħajsa tal-latini, carrying passengers from one shore to another. Now their place is occupied by modern ferries, which belong to the company "Gozo Channel" (Gozo Channel) - a monopolist for the ferry service on this route. So in any case you will have to use their service - which, however, is quite good.

There are three ferries. They transport both people and vehicles. The people leave their cars in the hold and go either to the salon (where you can sit, go to the toilet, drink tea and coffee and even buy a guide or newspaper) or on the open deck. From there you can admire the panorama of the coasts of Malta, Comino and Gozo.

The whole trip takes 20-30 minutes. From Malta, the ferry leaves from the town of Chirkewwa (Ċirkewwa), from Gozo - from the port of Mġarr (Mġarr). If you are traveling by car, you will have to stand in line to load into the hold, well, and if "for your two" - buy tickets safely and pass - you have enough space for sure!

Ticket prices are as follows:

For passengers: 4, 65 EUR for all, except (1) those who travel at night (ie from 8 pm and until the departure time of the first ferry the next day, from November to March) - 4, 05; (2) those who permanently reside in Gozo - 1, 15; (3) Maltese and Gozitan pensioners - free of charge; children from 3 to 12 years - 1, 15.

For motorists (car + driver): 15, 70 EUR for all except (1) those who travel at night (ie from 8 pm and until the departure of the first ferry the next day, from November to March) - 12 , 18; (2) those who permanently reside in Gozo - 8, 15; (3) state pensioners - 6, 95; of the Maltese pensioners - 11, 05.

Prices for other transportation categories can be viewed on the Gozo Channel website.

On the same site there is also a schedule of flights. It is important to keep in mind that navigation is summer (July - mid September), in the off-season (late May-late June and late September-late October) and winter (November-May). The exact start and end dates for these seasons are different each year, so it is recommended to track this information directly on the carrier's website.

Climate

March 1, Sunday Clearly +12 ° С in the day +11 ° С at night ° С water	March 2, Monday Overcast +14 ° С in the afternoon +13 ° С at night ° С water	March 3, Tuesday Clearly +14 ° С in the afternoon +14 ° С at night ° С water
Weather forecast for Gozo for 10 days

Beaches of Gozo

On Gozo, despite its small size, a lot of beaches .However, if you do not have a car and you are not staying in a resort town, getting to most of them will be very difficult: public transport in Gozo is not as effective as in Malta .Moreover, with the exception of Marsalforn and Shlendi, the Gozitan villages are quite far from the coasts with a convenient descent to the water .So, either take the car for the duration of your stay in Gozo (and it's worth it - the island is charming), or settle in a spa place, so that the sea was "at hand" - $ .

On Gozo, only two resorts - Marsalforn and Shlendi, the rest of the beaches are next to one or another village.

• Where to swim in Marslforn: Marsalforn bay, sandy beach, Baybury bay, rocky beach where you can swim with a mask.
• Where to swim in Xlendi: Xlendi Bay (sandy and concrete beaches)
• Dahlet Qorrot - in the vicinity of Nadur. Pebble-rocky beach.
• Dwejra (Dwejra) - in the vicinity of San Lawrenz (San Lawrenz). Rocky beach.
• Khondok ir-Rumin (Ħondoq ir-Rummien) - in the vicinity of Ala (Qala). Sand beach. It is believed that in this place the lowest temperature of sea water in Gozo is
• Mgarr ish-Shini (Mġarr ix-Xini) - in the vicinity of Shevkia (Xewkija). Sandy beach at the mouth of the Wadi Majar ish-Shini.
• Ramla Bay (Ramla Bay) - in the vicinity of the Ball (Xaghra). The most picturesque and popular sandy beach of Gozo with red sand.
• San Blas (San Blas) - in the vicinity of Nadur (Nadur). Sandy beach with red sand. Very steep descent to the beach itself: it is more reasonable to leave the car upstairs and do the rest of the way to the beach on foot.
• View of Ile-Asri (Wied il-Għasri) - in the vicinity of Asri (Għasri). Pebble beach at the mouth of Wadi Asri.

Festivals of Gozo (by villages)

• Fontana (Fontana) - The Sacred Heart of Jesus, is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of June.
• Għajnsielem (Ainsilem) - Theotokos of Loreto, is celebrated on the last Sunday of August.
• Għarb (Arb) - Visit to the Mother of God by her sister Elizabeth, is celebrated on the first Sunday of July.
• Għasri (Asri) - Body of Christ, celebrated on the first Sunday after the Trinity.
• Kerċem (Kerch) - The Mother of God "Relief", is celebrated on the second Sunday in July.
• Munxar (Munchar) - Shipwreck of St. Paul, is celebrated on the last Sunday of May.
• Nadur (Nadur) - Sv. Peter and Paul, is celebrated on the first Sunday, following June 29 - St. Peter and Paul.
• Qala (Ala) - St. Joseph, is celebrated on the first Sunday in August.
• San Lawrenz (St. Lawrence) - St. Laurenius, is celebrated on the second Sunday in August.
• Sannat - St. Margaret, is celebrated on the last Sunday of July.
• Victoria (Victoria) - Assumption of the Virgin, is celebrated on August 15, and St.. George the Victorious, is celebrated on the third Sunday of July.
• Xagħra (Shara) - Nativity of the Virgin, is celebrated on Sunday, closest to September 8 - the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin.
• Xewkija (Shevkia) - St. John the Baptist, is celebrated on Sunday, the closest to June 24 - St. Mary's Day. John the Baptist.
• Żebbuġ (Zebbuj) - Assumption of the Virgin, is celebrated on August 15.

Gozo hotels

Hotels, guesthouses, pharmacies, apartments, villas, hostels ... In Gozo, all this is, in general, either in the resort areas (Marsalforn and Shlendi), or close to the main attractions (Sannat, San Laurentz, Shar), or close to the port (MJARR, AINSILEM).

Hotels:

• 5 * hotels: Hotel Ta 'Cenc & Spa (Sannat), Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz (San Lawrenz)
• 4 * hotels: Cornucopia Hotel (Xagħra), Grand Hotel (Għajnsielem), Hotel Calypso (Marsalforn), St Patrick's Hotel (Xlendi)
• 3 * hotels: Beachview Hotel (Marsalforn), Downtown Hotel (Victoria), Hotel San Andrea (Xlendi)

Pensions: Mariblu Guesthouse (Xewkija), San Antonio Guesthouse (Xlendi), Electra Guesthouse (Marsalforn), Lantern Guesthouse (Marsalforn), Marsalforn Guesthouse (Marsalforn), Xaghra lodge Guesthouse (Xaghra)

Farmhouse (farmhouse) in translation means "farmhouse". These are traditional dwellings of the Maltese, which in recent years have become an unusually fashionable and expensive type of housing: they are really old (read: authentic), stylish, comfortable for living (of course, with all modern "stuffing"). Often in the adjoining farmhouse the courtyard is arranged with a swimming pool and an arbor for rest.

To take a farmhouse for rest is not a cheap pleasure (Maltese, for example, they make it a person for 8-10, so there is enough space in such houses for everyone). However, the experience of rest in such conditions can turn out to be quite interesting.

Farmhouses are found in almost all the Gozitan villages (the lion's share belongs to the northern part of the island - Arb, Asri, Zebbuj, and the village of Shar).

Hostels: Maria Giovanna Hostel (Marsalforn), Santa Martha Hostel (Marsalforn).

(Classification and data are taken from the websites of the Malta Association of Hotel and Restaurant Owners, Malta Tourism Ministry)

Kitchen and restaurants in Gozo

Restaurants in Gozo are generally cheaper than Maltese, however expensive this institution does not concern. The places of their greatest congestion are the port (Mgarr and the adjoining village of Ainsilem), the resorts of Marsalforn and Shlendi, the capital of the island of Victoria. However, it is worth paying a visit to less "tourist" Gozitan villages (say, Arba or Ala type) - there are pleasant and very inexpensive establishments of local catering.

• Category 1 establishments: Gazebo Restaurant (Kempinski Hotel, San Lawrenz), Trattoria Restaurant (Kempinski Hotel, San Lawrenz)
• Category 2 establishments: Grand Restaurant (Grand Hotel, Ghajnsielem), Ta 'Frenc Restaurant (Munxar)
• Category 3 establishments: Nemo Bistrorant (Xlendi)

Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Gozo

Archaeological sights

• Mgaliticheskie temples Ggantija (Ggantija)

They are considered the oldest separately standing buildings on Earth. Ggantija refers to the Temple period and was built around 3500 BC. e. Where are located: Xara village (Xaghra)

• Archaeological Museum

Where is: Citadel, Victoria (Victoria)

• Dolmens and gauge carts on the Ta 'Cenc plateau

Where are located: the surroundings of Sannat village

Historical sights

• Citadel ($) - $

The main fortification of Gozo, a kind of analogue of Malta's Mdina. Nowadays, the Citadel is an open-air museum (although there are many museums and under its roof - archeology, folklore, natural sciences). There, too, are placed the sights of the armory and an old prison. And the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is adorned with the fortress.

Where is located: Victoria (Victoria)

• Watch towers

The Mgarr ix-Xini Tower was built in the second half of the 17th century and protected the entrance to the narrow Gulf of Majarr ish-Shini, a favorite hiding place of Muslim pirates. In 2000, it was restored by the Wirt Ghawdex fund.

The Xlendi Tower was built in the second half of the 17th century and guarded on the Shlendi coast from corsairs, pirates and violators of quarantine.

The Dwejra Tower was built in the second half of the 17th century and protected not only the low coast of Dwyra, but also access to the Rock of Gen (Gebla tal-General). This rock was famous for its rare fungus melitensis fungus, which was erroneously attributed to miraculous healing properties. Open to visits.

The San Blas Tower, a tower of Isopu (It-Torri ta 'Isopu) was built in the second half of the 17th century and guarded the bay of Dakhlet Orroth. Open to visits.

Where are: on the coasts of Mgarr, Xlendi, San Lawrenz, Nadur. Getting to them on their own is very difficult, except for Schlendi.

• Fort Shambray (Fort Shambrey)

It was built in 1794 and was supposed to replace by that time the dilapidated Citadel, but this did not happen. At present it is a residential complex - in the process of construction.

Where is located: the neighborhood of the village (port) Mgarr (Mgarr)

Religious / cultural attractions

• Gozo Cathedral of Assumption of Our Lady

The main temple of Gozo, stands on the territory of the Citadel. It was erected in the late XVII - early XVIII century.

Where is: Citadel, Victoria (Victoria)

• National Marian Sanctuary Ta 'Pinu (Ta' Pinu)

It was built in the 1920s on the site of the Virgin Mary's appearance by a certain gositanka named Karmni Grima. The cult of Madonna Ta 'Pinu is very popular on the islands.

Where is located: between the villages of Arb (Gharb) and Asri (Ghasri)

• Chapel of St. Dimitry (St. Dimitri chapel)

Date of construction - the second half of the XVIII century. There are at least 3 legends associated with it, the most famous of which is about the old woman Zgugine, whose son was returned to St. Demetrius from a pirate captivity.

Where is located: the surroundings of the village of Arb (Gharb)

• Parish church of the village of Shevkia (Xewkija church)

The main temple of Shevkia can safely be called a "Gozitan answer to the temple in Most". Both of these churches are called "rotundas" because of the shape of the dome, and both of its size are included in the top ten European churches.

Where is: Shevkia village (Xewkija)

• Mill 'Ta' Kola windmill (Ta 'Kola windmill) and folklore museum

It was built in the beginning of the XVIII century by knights-Ioannites and rented out to private individuals. This is one of the few mills on islands with wings.

Where is: Xara (Xaghra)

Natural attractions

• The coast of Dwejra

This is one of the most popular attractions of Gozo because of the so-called. Azure window (Azzure window) - large natural arch.

There is also a so-called. The Rock of the General (Il-Gebla tal-General, aka Fungus Rock). It is connected with the story of a supposedly rare supposedly mushroom, to which miraculous healing properties were attributed. The inhabitants of the island on pain of death were forbidden to collect this plant, but there were brave souls who decided on a desperate act.

The coast of Dweir is a striking example of a landscape called karst and characterized by funnels (valleys). One of them is the so-called. Inland Sea. On its bank are boats, on which tourists are rolled through a tunnel that leads to the open sea.

Where is located: the surroundings of the village of San Lawrenz

• Coast and beach Ramla Hamra ($) $ $

It is famous for the color of its sand - a rich reddish-red color. Here there are rare sand dunes. Also it's a very popular beach.

According to the Gozitan legend number one, not far from Ramla lived the mythological nymph Calypso, who for seven years kept Odysseus in captivity on his way to Ithaca. There is even the so-called "Calypso Cave", where tourists are specially brought. Currently, the cave entrance is closed.

Where is located: Nadur village (Nadur)

• Valley and beach of Mjarrr ish-Shini (Wied Mgarr ix-Xini)

In the mouth of the Majarr ish-Shini valley there is a small pebble beach where you can swim and sunbathe, and also have a snack in the fresh air. It is interesting to stroll along the valley of Mgarr ish-Shini. At some point, it turns into the winding wadi Hanzira ("Piglet"), which in form resembles a strongly curved Latin S ..

Where is located: the neighborhood of the village of Shevkia (Xewkija)

• Coast and beach of Dahlet Qorrot

It wears the name of the holy hermit Kurrava (Korrot), who, according to the legend, traveled from Malta to Comino, and from Comino to Gozo ... on his cloak. On one of the coastal cliffs in this bay stands the San Blas Tower, also known as the Isopri tower (it-Torri ta 'Isopu).

Where is located: Nadur village (Nadur)

• Bay and beach of Hondok ir-Rumin (Hondoq ir-Rummien)

This small bay with a sandy beach, where the water is the coldest in Gozo. Where is located: the surroundings of the village of Ala (Qala)

• Nuffara Hill (Nuffara).

On this hill with a flat top, archaeologists have found the ruins of a settlement of the Bronze Age. Where is located: the surroundings of the village of Shara (Xaghra

• Valley of Asri (Wied Ghasri).

One of the most beautiful semi-submerged valleys in the Maltese archipelago, an analog of the Zurri valley in the south of Malta, perhaps less well-known and therefore virtually untouched by civilization. Where is located: the neighborhood of the village of Asri (Ghasri)

• The Valley of Milah.

Did you know that the famous Gaziantan Azure window has a very dignified rival - a similar formation in the Milà Valley? Where is located: the surroundings of the village of Arb (Gharb)

• Valley of Lunzjata (Wied Lunzjata).

One of the few "deep-water" valleys of the Maltese Islands, where the stream running along its bottom does not dry out all year round. The entrance to it is decorated with rather grandiose for such a backwater gate, built by the Knights-Johannits. In the same valley there is a nice chapel and an ancient fountain. Where is located: Kerchem village vicinities

• Cape Eck (Heqqa Point).

Known for several geological wonders, the most memorable of which is the stone mushroom! Where is located: the surroundings of the village of Arb (Gharb)

Diving in Gozo

A local "paradise" for divers is the Inland Sea, the water that is renewed through a natural tunnel in the rock. Another "diving" place - Xlendi, a small sandy beach in the south-west of the island, where two steep cliffs form a natural bay with the purest water. There are a couple of small hotels, several restaurants and, of course, a dive center. Photo of Gozo (10)