Places of Interest

The Citadel

Only a couple of families live within the Citadel walls today. In the square you will find the magnificent baroque Cathedral of Gozo dedicated to Santa Marija, or more precisely the Assumption of the Virgin Mary; as well as the Law Courts and the Bishop’s Palace.

Very close by are several fascinating small museums and a state of the art Visitors’ Centre: The Cathedral Museum, the Museum of Archaeology, the Folklore Museum, the Gozo Nature Museum, the Old Prison, the Old Gunpowder Magazine, the Grain Silos, the Battery and the World War II Shelter.

Along the winding streets you will find the historic Chapel of St. Joseph and a number of holy niches (shrines) and bass reliefs. Look out too for well-preserved Norman-style windows and arches. On the façade of historic houses and church buildings can be seen Coat-of-Arms, and it is worth noting that whilst some of the damage is due to the toll of time, some is the deliberate work of Napoleon’s troops who briefly occupied the island at the end of the eighteenth century. Accessible for persons with a disability.

The Saltpans

On the north coast of Gozo, just past Qbajjar Bay west of Marsalforn, the coast is characterised by a chequerboard of rock-cut saltpans protruding into the sea. These 350-year-old salt pans, which stretch about 3km along the coast, are more than just scenic. They are part of the centuries-old Gozitan tradition of Sea-Salt production that has been passed down within certain families for many generations. During the summer months, locals can still be seen scraping up the crystals of salt. Once collected, the salt is stored and processed in the caves that have been carved into the coastal rock.

Accessible for persons with a disability.

The Azure Window

The Azure Window has represented Gozo and the island’s enduring raw beauty for many, many years. The iconic, massive arch landmark with its flat top over the sea at Dwejra, endured raging seas over the years, until the 8th March of 2017 when gale force winds and high waves swept away the whole structure. The two other famous natural landmarks – the Inland Sea, and Dwejra Bay are beautiful landmarks at Dwejra. The stunning geography of the area was created thousands of years ago when two limestone caves collapsed. This and the nearby Blue Hole and Inland Sea are also popular scuba diving sites.

Accessible for persons with a disability.

Calypso's Cave

Calypso’s Cave overlooks the glorious red sands of Gozo’s finest beach, Ramla l-Ħamra and is alleged to be the cave referred to by Homer in The Odyssey. The story goes that Gozo is Homer’s Island of Ogygia and the cave is the one where the beautiful nymph Calypso keeps Odysseus as a “prisoner of love” for seven years.

Links with Homer are intriguing and the views of the picteresque Ramla Bay are breathtaking. On the shore below Calypso’s Cave are the ruins of a fortification built by the Knights of Malta in the mid-18th century to serve as defence against invading forces.

The cave and part of the promontory are inaccessible to the public due to geological movement.

Dwejra Tower

Dwejra Tower (Maltese: Torri tad-Dwejra), sometimes known as Qawra Tower (Maltese: Torri tal-Qawra),is a small watchtower in Dwejra Bay, limits of San Lawrenz on the island of Gozo in Malta. It was completed in 1652, and is one of the Lascaris towers. Today, it is in good condition and is open to the public.

It is one of four surviving coastal watchtowers in Gozo, with the others being Xlendi Tower, Mġarr ix-Xini Tower and Isopu Tower.

Accessible for persons with a disability.

Ta'Pinu Sanctuary

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and national shrine located some 700 metres (2,300 ft) from the village of Għarb on the island of Gozo, the sister island of Malta. The church is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Ta' Pinu. The basilica is located in open countryside which allows visitors to enjoy beautiful views of the area and is of great national importance to Gozitans everywhere.