Gozo

From CruisersWiki

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.

Weather

See Malta.

Passages

See Aegean to West Mediterranean Passages.

Islands

• Comino

Communication

• Mgarr Port Control - VHF channels 09 & 12

See also Malta.

Navigation

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

Entrance

See Entrance : Mgarr.

Berthing

Ports

• Mgarr Mgarr /wiki/Mgarr |  – port of entry ||  – marina |

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

• Mgarr Marina

Anchorages

• 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.

Amenities

See each Mgarr and Mgarr Marina.

Provisioning

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

Eating out

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

Transportation

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

Tourism

Places to Visit

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

The Rabat in Victoria

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.

View from the Ggantija Temple

The Giants' Tower

The Giants' Tower

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

The Ta' Kola Windmill Mechanism

Friends

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

Forums

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

Links

• Gozo at the Wikipedia
• Gozo at the Wikivoyage
• Victoria at the Wikipedia
• Megalithic Temples

References

See Malta.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

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

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Gozo and this page's details validated:

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

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Contributors to this page
Names: Istioploos, Lighthouse