Gozo

Gozo is a small Maltese island with a population of around 37,000. I’ve been staying there for the past week with two friends, living in a ‘farmhouse’ in Xaghra (pronounced Shah-rah), a town located in the centre of the island. Perhaps it was once a farmhouse, but it’s now surrounded by many other houses and sits on the edge of town. Regardless, it was perfect! The house had a rooftop terrace where we could sit and watch the sun setting, as well as a gorgeous garden and pool, which meant we spent much of the week swimming, reading and relaxing.

At night we wandered down to the town square to sit among the locals and tourists (mostly British), eat delicious food and drink very good local wine. The square is dominated by the town’s main church which is particularly beautiful at night when the dome is illuminated.

It’s very easy to get around Gozo. You can ride the local bus for 1.50 euro. You can also rent a car, a quad-bike, or even walk. We opted to rent a jeep for a couple of days which was great fun. We bounced around the island in our little car exploring every town and bay and beach that we could find. We also took a bus to Rabat, the Gozo’s largest city, to see the Citadella, an ancient fortress perched high above the town centre.

Marsalforn was a highlight, with its beautiful beaches, ancient salt farms and colourful fishing boats. On the outskirts of the town is a statue of Jesus – high on a hill – which we could see from our rooftop at night.

We also loved Xlendi Bay, which has crystal clear blue water and is surrounded by massive cliffs. San Lawrenz, once home to the famous Azure Window until it collapsed earlier this year, was another favourite.

Today we take the ferry to mainland Malta where we’ll spend another five days getting to see and experience more of this fabulous country. I’m going to miss Gozo, with it’s great food, friendly locals, and stunning beaches, and hope to return one day.

The view from our rooftop