Gozo

From CruisersWiki

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing to Gozo, Malta

Contents 1 Charts 2 Radio Nets 3 Weather 4 Approach and Navigation 5 Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration) 6 Berthing Options 6.1 Ports 6.2 Marinas & Yacht Clubs 6.3 Anchorages 7 Offshore Islands 8 Yacht Services and Repairs 9 Things to do Ashore 9.1 Tourism 9.1.1 Victoria 9.1.2 Ggantija 9.1.3 Ta' Kola Windmill 9.2 Grocery & Supply Stores 9.3 Eateries 9.4 Internet/WiFi 9.5 Laundry 9.6 Motorbike & Car Rentals 9.7 Garbage Disposal 9.8 Transportation 10 Routes/Passages To/From 11 Cruiser's Friends 12 Forum Discussions 13 External Links 14 References & Publications 15 Personal Notes 15.1 Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

The delightful island of Gozo with an area of 67 km² (26 mi²) and 31,053 inhabitants is the second largest island, after Malta itself, of the Maltese group.

Like Malta, Gozo has been inhabited since the Neolithic times. A popular nickname of Gozo is the Isle of Calypso. This stems from the writings of the Ancient Greek historians Euhemerus and Callimachus who maintain that Gozo is the island of Ogygia, home of the nymph Calypso, who kept the Homeric hero Odysseus there for seven years.

In 1551 the Ottoman fleet under the admirals Turgut Reis and Sinan Pasha invaded the island, captured over 5,000 of its inhabitants, and sold them into slavery in Lybia. In 1565-80 the Knights Hospitaller, who controlled Malta since 1522, repopulated Gozo. From that time Gozo has been part of Malta except for a brief autonomous period from 28 October 1798 to 5 September 1800 when Malta was conquered by the French under Napoleon.

Charts

See Malta.

Radio Nets

• Mgarr Port Control - VHF channels 09 & 12

See also Malta.

Weather

See Malta.

Approach and Navigation

The approach to Mgarr, the main port of Gozo, while straightforward, there can be accelerated winds in the channel between Gozo and Comino.

Check-in facilities (Customs and Immigration)

See Mgarr.

Berthing Options

Ports

• Mgarr

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Mgarr Marina

Anchorages

List details of all safe anchorages in the area.

• Funghus Rock Bay (Dwejra Bay): Although nearly completely surrounded by steep walls of rock, swell from NW to SW enteres this bay and may create an uncomfortable atmohsphere. Amazing Panorama nevertheless and at least worth a day anchorage. Single sandpatches with good holding, otherwise rocky bottom.

Offshore Islands

• Comino

Yacht Services and Repairs

See each Port.

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

Victoria

The main town of Gozo is Victoria, another medivael town. It has an Archaeological Museum which is housed in the castle, the Rabat. Also, within the castle, there is the Crafts Center and the Folkloric Museum.

It is also worth wandering in the charming town streets where you can buy capers, local cheese, handmade baskets, and straw hats.

The Cathedral in Victoria Click for larger view

The Rabat in Victoria Click for larger view

Ggantija

The major prehistoric site in Gozo is the temple of Ggantija, a World Heritage site. Ggantija (the Giants' Tower) is very well kept, it is meticulously clean, and the megalith temple is most impressive. One only wishes that they had placed a roof to protect the soft megaliths.

The Giants' Tower

View from the Ggantija Temple Click for larger view

Click for larger view

Click for larger view

Ta' Kola Windmill

Near the Ggantija temple there is a the Ta' Kola Windmill which has been restored and is now kept as a museum. The mill was built in 1500 AD under the grand master Nikolo Cottoner. Before that time, all mills in Malta were powered by horses and not by wind. The craftsmen who built it were Catalans imported from Spain. Inside it is very nice with all the old mechanisms exposed in addition to good collection of folkloric items from that period.

The Ta' Kola Windmill Click for larger view

The Ta' Kola Windmill Mechanism Click for larger view

Grocery & Supply Stores

• In Victoria there many colorful food stores. The local cheese is worth buying

Eateries

• There are many restaurants within walking distance of the Mgarr Marina

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Garbage Disposal

See each [Mgarr.

Transportation

There is frequent bus service, by colorful yellow busses, throughout the island.

Routes/Passages To/From

See Aegean to West Mediterranean Passages.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

• Gozo at the Wikipedia
• Victoria
• Ggantija

References & Publications

See Malta.

Personal Notes

• I loved Gozo, it is definitely a place to return to. --Istioploos 22:13, 19 March 2009 (UTC)

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

• May 2001 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis

This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.

Contributors to this page
Names: Istioploos, Lighthouse

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