Malta - Gozo Island - October 2023.

Early morning of our last full day in Malta, we took ferry to Gozo from Valleta port. It takes about 45 minutes by Gozo Highspeed ferry. Gozo is located west of Malta and is the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago. The two islands are separated by a small channel, very easy to travel from one island to the other.  Gozo would be a good day trip from Malta.

Virtu Gozo, highspeed ferry for connection Malta - Gozo.

 

Leaving Valletta Harbor.

Arriving at the port of Mgarr on Gozo Island. Beautiful scenery with Fort Chambray and the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in the background.

We headed to Victoria, the capital of Gozo and continue to the Citadella. These are main tourist attractions of Gozo.

Victoria:  also known as Rabat to the locals. It is the capital city of Gozo Island. Independence Square is the prominent landmark of Victoria with St. George's Basilica is at the center of the historic area.

St. James' Church, Victoria Gozo.

Inside St. James' Church.

St. George's Basilica, Victoria Gozo.

St. George's Square.

A plaque in St. George's Square. 

The Cittadella :  also known as the Castello, is the citadel of Victoria on Gozo Island. It is believed to have been the acropolis of the Puni-Roman city of Gaulos. The acropolis was converted into a castle as a refuge for Gozo's polulation. A suburb began to develop outside its wall by the 15th century. This area now forms the historic core of Victoria. The Cittadella contains churches and other historic buildings. 

Remains of the stone bridge leading to the Citadel gate. The commemorative Obelisk near the entrance gate is in the background.

A model of the citadel.

The huge stone walls and bastions of Citadel.

View of the citadel wall from its main gate.
 

Citadel walls and bastions.

Cathedral of the Assumption (the Old St. Joseph's Church) in the citadel.

A fountain in the cathedral plaza.

A street in the citadel.

Ruins/Beehives.

Citadel wall.

Inside the citadel.

St. Joseph Chapel - historic house with medieval arches.

Medieval wall.

View from the Victoria Rabat (Citadel).

St. Joseph Chapel, view from the citadel wall.

View of Victoria from citadel wall.

Ggantija Temples.

Ggantija is a megalithic temple complex from the Neolithic era which make them more than 5500 years old, the world's second oldest existing manmade religious structures after Gobekli Tepe in Turkey.

Ta' Kola Windmill at the end of the street from the temple complex.

A residence street in the temple neighborhood.

View of the town of Ghajnsielem from the restaurant window while we waited for the ferry to go back to Valletta.


Bruschetta, chips and meatballs for a snack.


With a complement drink of limoncello. 

Ferry back to Valletta.