IslandGuide.biz

Gozo

Gozo landscape - Photo courtesy of Visit Malta

Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo
by Carolyn Bain
Basking in the Mediterranean, the Maltese Islands boast attractions well out of proportion to their tiny size. Whether you're here for the magnificent prehistoric temples, the exuberant festivals, or simply to get away from it all on Gozo, this inspirational guide will help you connect with the real Malta.
More information and prices from:
Amazon.com - US dollars
Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars
Amazon.co.uk - British pounds
Amazon.de - Euros
Amazon.fr - Euros

Fortress Malta : An Island Under Siege 1940-43
by James Holland
Today, this valiant story is largely forgotten, but James Holland offers a riveting portrait of the siege that helped determine victory or defeat in World War II. For nearly three years, Malta held the key to dominance in the Mediterranean and North Africa. Lying between Italy and Libya, Malta was the ideal place from which to attack shipping lines supplying Italian and German forces in North Africa. To save Egypt, the Suez Canal, and the Middle East oil fields from Nazi control, it was essential that the island be held at all costs.
More information and prices from:
Amazon.com - US dollars
Amazon.ca - Canadian dollars
Amazon.co.uk - British pounds
Amazon.de - Euros
Amazon.fr - Euros

Gozo

Gozo is the second largest of the Maltese Islands with a population of around 30,000. The Gozitans live on an island only a third of the size of Malta and live a much slower pace of life than their neighbours. The main industries are farming and fishing.

Because of the smallness and relative quiet of the island, the tourist industry seems more exclusive than Malta. Gozo offers a tranquil base from which to explore all the Maltese Islands.

In Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo Carolyn Bain states that Gozo:

"... offers good walking, superb coastal scenery and some of the best scuba diving in Europe plus attractions like the megalithic temple of Ggantija and Victoria's medieval citadel (a miniature version of Malta's Mdina). If you're looking for action-packed nightlife you'll be disappointed, but if you're interested in a chance to walk, swim, dive and snorkel, plus enjoy warm hospitality and see how the rest of Malta must have been before the advent of mass tourism, you're in luck."

In Greek mythology, Gozo was thought to be the home of the nymph Calypso who held Odysseus in her spell for 7 years until the God Zeus demanded his release. The Phoenicians probably called the island Gwl - the name used for their sailing ships. Later, the Greeks translated the name to Gaulos and the Romans modified it to Gaudos. Under Spanish rule this became Gozo. The inhabitants call it Ghawdex (pronounced ‘ow-desh’).

The main town of Gozo is called Victoria, although the Gozitans tend to use the older Arabic name of Rabat. The town is dominated by the Citadel, a walled castle area. The town centre is It-Tokk, a large square. Victoria is the place to buy food and antiques or watch life go by.

Getting to Gozo

British Airways franchise partner GB Airways provides a more comfortable way of getting to the Maltese islands than the usual flying cattle truck (charter airline). See British Airways Flights for the latest deals from London Gatwick. Gozo is a 20-minute ferry ride from Malta.

More about the Mediterranean islands

Travel guides are available through the following links: