The Top 5 Things To Do in Gozo

 

Street Scene: Victoria

Gozo is an island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of Malta. After the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago. Compared to its southeastern neighbour, Gozo is more rural and known for its scenic hills, which are featured on its coat of arms. Gozo is rural in character and, compared to the main island Malta, less developed. There are many beaches on the island, as well as seaside resorts that are popular with both locals and tourists, the most popular being Marsalforn and Xlendi. Gozo is considered one of the top diving destinations in the Mediterranean and a centre for water sports. (Source: Wikipedia)

 After spending 9 nights in Malta I was wondering if we had done the right thing in booking 5 nights in Gozo. My Mom and I had enjoyed Malta so much, we weren’t sure if Gozo would be as enjoyable! We were in for a very pleasant surprise – just like Malta, Gozo exceeded all of our expectations and it will definitely be going on my ‘to visit again’ list.

There is so much to do in Gozo even though it is a really small island, here are my Top 5 Things To Do in Gozo.

Victoria

Victoria is Gozo’s capital that is much smaller in comparison to Malta’s capital Valetta (which in comparison to other European cities is very small). There are lots of shops and restaurants in Victoria, all within a short walking distance. Just like Valetta it is a wealth of photography opportunities with it’s windy streets and unique, colourful doorways. The main square in Victoria is a really nice place to get a meal or just sit with a drink and watch the world go by.  

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Churches and Cathedrals

The Basilica of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu is a Roman Catholic church located just 4km from Victoria and is well worth a visit. Ta’ Pinu is set in the stunning backdrop of the local countryside. There is a small museum and shop at the back of the church where you can buy gifts and have masses said. You can also see photos of Pope John Paul II on his visit to the Basilica on 26^th May 1990.

There is a very unique hallway located behind the altar running the entire width of the church. The walls of this hallway are adorned with photos, keepsakes & medical devices. These are gifts to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu in gratitude for and in remembrance of miracles received after prayers offered to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu. A most unusual and moving tribute. 

There is also many beautiful churches worth visiting in Victoria.

 

 

 

The Blue Grotto

The Azure window used to be one of the most famous landmarks in Gozo before it collapsed during a storm in 2017. The Blue Grotto refers to the sea caverns that exist near and around where the Azure window used to be and it is well worth a visit.

There are superb views from the top of the cliffs but the real magic is the view from the sea where you can see the sheer cliff faces and visit the many caverns at the base of the cliffs. The water is crystal clear and a most vivid blue colour which absolutely lives up to it’s name ‘The Blue Grotto’. Boat trips leave regularly and take about 20 minutes.

I didn’t dive in The Blue Grotto, however it is meant to be one of the top diving destinations in the Mediterranean.

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta and Gozo’s most visited tourist attractions. Photos of The Blue Lagoon on the internet would suggest this is a calm, tranquil, beautiful, idyllic place. The reality is a little bit different. It is indeed beautiful but not so tranquil, calm and idyllic. 

Early in the morning, before the boats of tourists arrive, the Blue Lagoon is gorgeous. The crystal clear, aqua blue waters are a most beautiful place to swim. As time passes by, boats from Malta and Gozo start to arrive and the small area housing the touristy part of The Blue Lagoon starts to fill up and it gets really crowded. The undeveloped rocky location can barely cater for all of the visitors and it becomes not such a beautiful or enjoyable place to be. 

In saying all of the above, it is still worth a visit. To get the most out of the trip and to get some quality time at The Blue Lagoon – go very early in the morning. A speedboat goes from Hondoq Bay at 9am that takes about 10mins. This early boat will ensure you enjoy and get some photos of The Blue Lagoon before it gets overcrowded.

It’s worth spending a bit of time at Hondoq Bay after your trip to The Blue Lagoon, it has a nice small beach with a lovely little restaurant and you can organise diving, boat trips and all types of water sports from here. 

The Blue Lagoon before the crowds

The Blue Lagoon when the boats arrive

Stay at ‘The Pearl Of Gozo’

I don’t include places to stay in my blog posts but there is always a first time! 

In Gozo we stayed at ‘The Pearl of Gozo’ – a beautiful B&B that was like home away from home. This stunning B&B is run by Debbie and Toni, a fabulous couple that made us feel like their home was our home. Debbie was like our personal guide to Gozo as she recommended what to see and do in Gozo and then kindly took the time to help us organise it all! The Pearl Of Gozo is located in the Xewkija area of Gozo. As Gozo is such a small island nothing is too far away or takes too long to travel to. Victoria is 2.5km from Xewkija and the bus stop is literally a 1 minute walk from The Pearl of Gozo. Gozo has all the same hop on hop off buses that any tourist destination has but it is just as easy to get around by local bus and even easier by taxi.

Not only are Debbie and Toni super hosts, the B&B itself is so beautiful, peaceful and charming. It has a lovely pool so if you feel like taking a break from touring around you can spend the day here relaxing and chilling out.  

Last but not least, the breakfast at ‘The Pearl Of Gozo’ is amazing!!! Debbie and Toni offer a fabulous continental breakfast and also hot food if you prefer. Debbie is one amazing cook and bakes everything from scratch even the heavenly Tiramisu you see in the image below. Yes homemade Tiramisu for breakfast, this was after homemade crepes with nutella – it is holidays after all!!!

Big thank you to Debbie and Toni for looking after us so well, we look forward to going back to Gozo and staying with you again! 

 

 

Thanks for reading,

Safe travels,

Siobhain

x x x

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The Top 5 Things To Do in Malta

Valetta’s Fountain

Malta, officially known as the Republic of Malta, is a Southern European island country consisting of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. It lies 80 km (50 mi) south of Italy, 284 km (176 mi) east of Tunisia and 333 km (207 mi) north of Libya.  With a population of about 475,000 over an area of 316 km2 (122 sq mi),  Malta is the world’s tenth smallest and fifth most densely populated country. Its capital is Valletta, which is the smallest national capital in the European Union by area at 0.8 km². The official languages are Maltese and English, with Maltese officially recognised as the national language and the only Semitic language in the European Union. (Source: Wikipedia)

 As a Travel Photographer there are usually very solid reasons why I choose to visit certain destinations. Mostly it’s because they have been on my ‘bucket list ‘for a while, I know they are great places to photograph and they have a hotter climate than Ireland (which gives me plenty of choice!!). This year was a little different – I chose Malta and Gozo simply because we could fly from Cork (I love Cork Airport and it is less than an hour’s drive from home) and they were both highly recommended by a friend of mine (thanks Dee).

Both Malta and Gozo exceeded all expectations I had, here are my Top 5 Things To Do in Malta,

Visit/Stay in Valetta

Valetta is the Capital city of Malta and is a must see. My friend Dee recommended we stay in Valetta and I’m so glad we did.

Valetta’s streets remind me of Cuba’s Capital Havana. Amazing architecture – old and new, polished and distressed, inhabited and desolate, all live seamlessly together to give Valetta it’s unique look and feel. Each corner turned brings a new experience, a feast for the eyes and so much material for my lens. Valetta’s streets are connected through many flights of steps leading to all sorts of destinations – the serene and beautiful harbour, magnificent churches, restaurants and cafes.

There is no shortage of places to eat in Valetta, we found that the cheaper/more reasonably priced cafes and restaurants sold just as good food as the more expensive ones and so there is no need to spend too much on getting a great meal. Malta’s proximity to Italy is evident in the popularity of classic Italian pasta and pizza dishes, all with their own Maltese twist.

We spent 9 nights in Valetta and could easily have stayed another week, there is so much to see and do in this small but beautiful capital city.

 

 

 

 

Mdina

Mdina is a beautiful city enclosed by high walls which was the medieval capital of Malta. It’s not hard to see why Mdina is one of Malt’a most popular tourist attractions. 

Mdina is a maze of winding streets with beautiful old architecture that has been preserved throughout the years ensuring it maintains it’s rich historical look and feel. Coloured doorways give Mdina a more modern look and make it such a pretty place to photograph.

For €6, you can take The Mdina Experience which gives you an insight into the history of Mdina and the importance of this history to Malta. According to The Mdina Experience website this is

‘an unforgettable 30 minutes to experience Mdina’s fascinating journey through time. Relive Mdina’s 7000 years of triumph and tribulations – the cult of the mother Goddess – the shipwreck of St. Paul – the medieval city half destroyed by earthquake and gloriously rebuilt. The spirit of the knights of St. John, fighting valiantly in battles to defend the Maltese Islands still resounds. There’s ancient history and realism here, but above all there’s high drama, which is the story of the Mdina Experience’.

Mdina is well worth a visit, take the time to stroll around and enjoy getting lost in the maze of winding streets.

 

 

 

 

 

Churches and Cathedrals

Malta has many beautiful churches and cathedrals and it’s Roman Catholic beliefs are evident everywhere from the sheer number of churches to the many religious ornaments adorning the street facades.

Mosta Church is a magnificent building with a miraculous history. During World War II, a bomb was dropped on Mosta church while inside 300 people prayed. The bomb pierced through the roof of the church and landed near the altar but did not detonate. This is the miracle of Mosta church that survived a WWII bombing and to this day continues to celebrate this miracle.

A visit to the gallery in Mosta church gives a unique perspective to this beautiful church. There is a World War II shelter next to Mosta church which is also well worth a visit – not for those who may be claustrophobic as it is underground!!

Valetta is home to St Georges Cathedral which is also a really beautiful church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spend time at the beach

There is plenty of choice when it comes to spending a day at the beach in Malta.

As you drive west from Valetta along the North coast of Malta you will pass through some beach areas like Silema, St Julians, Pembroke, Bugibba and St Paul’s Bay. Some of these areas are prettier than others and all offer a different experience of ‘a day at the beach’. Where you stop to spend time depends on what you want from a day at the beach.

We spend a fabulous day at Paradise Day. Paradise Bay is a small beach with excellent facilities and a really nice restaurant.

 

 

Visit Gozo

Gozo is an island off the coast of Malta and is well worth a visit for a few days. Gozo is smaller, quieter and more peaceful than Malta and so if this is the type of holiday you are looking for, Gozo is your place. My next post will be on Gozo, in the meantime here are a few sneak preview images. 

Thanks for reading,

Safe travels,

Siobhain

x x x

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