Neighborhood
Gozo
in Malta, Malta
Quieter island for bathing days.
Where it is
Gozo is the second-largest island of the Maltese archipelago, northwest of the main island and reached by ferry from Ċirkewwa past the small island of Comino.
What it is
Gozo is greener, more rural and quieter than the main island, with highlights such as the Cittadella in Victoria, the Ta' Pinu shrine and steep cliffs. Inside the fortress, narrow lanes wind between Baroque buildings, museums and bastions with sweeping views over the island.
History
The island has been inhabited since the Bronze Age; its capital, Victoria (Rabat), grew up around the fortified Cittadella, sacked by Ottoman forces in 1551 and rebuilt as a gunpowder fortress in the early 17th century. Its history and development mirror Malta's, yet Gozo keeps a character entirely of its own.