Some people are tempted to say that Gozo’s tranquility is what Malta used to be. This is inaccurate as Malta has been an island of culture and urban development for more than 5000 years, while Gozo has never been developed. At the island’s heart is the cute and perfectly-formed walled capital of Citadel, from where there are views across the hills to the Mediterranean. Claimed to be the world’s oldest freestanding monuments, the Ggantija Temples had over a millennia of history before the Egyptian pyramids were raised. Also on the island’s small interior you’ll find a succession of tiny villages that are so quiet they can feel abandoned.
You’ll find a choice of hotels dotted across Gozo. Xlendi is a beautiful fishing village and bay backdropped by rugged cliffs, with translucent Mediterranean waters that can baffle the eye. Ghasri is ever smaller and enchanting. Hotels on the interior are spacious and a great base if you have a rental car. Other than Ramla Bay, Gozo doesn’t have sandy beaches. Instead, the magnificent Gozo coastline is dominated by cliffs, hidden pebbled bays, deserted walking trails, and a silence that can linger long in the memory.
The authenticity and lack of sand means that Gozo doesn’t attract many families. Instead, the island is popular with couples of all ages. Anyone who likes walking and the outdoors will find the island to be a paradise. And anyone who wants to getaway from the noise and crowds of Europe will discover an untouched beauty that is becoming increasing difficult to find.
The ambience is always serene, only enhanced further by historical mysteries that whisper from temples and cliffs. It’s an island that creates a getaway from the world and the longer you stay the more escapist it feels. Much smaller and greener than Malta, the island of Gozo can be visited on a day trip. However, the island’s soporific atmosphere is best in the late afternoon and evening, when most people have taken the boat back to Malta.
