Exploring the Wonderful Island of Gozo

A shot of Gozo overlooking the sea and pastures.

Traveling has been a staple to-do in everyone's bucket list. Travelers look for the perfect destinations to visit for the best deals, sometimes, the other way around. When it comes to renowned landscapes, laudable history and culture, vast tourist destinations, and wide-ranges of outdoor activities, the alluring Island of Gozo is one to top the list of tourists - hikers, divers, even history buffs, or those simply wanting to be surrounded by magnificent sceneries and welcoming people.

The Island of Gozo is comparatively rural with economic dependencies and historical roots on fishery and agriculture. It is sister to the islands of Malta and Comino.

Here are the things you need to know about the lovely island of Gozo:

1. Geography
Gozo, the second largest island comprising the Maltese Archipelago, stretches to 67 km2, and boasts greeneries of hills and lands, with cliffs surrounding its coasts, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Its highest point, known as the TacDbeigi Hill, rises to about 190 meters above sea level. Its fertile lands remain green for most of the year, and are testament to the thriving agriculture of the place.

The island also features caves as the Calypso's Cave, Xerri's Grotto, and Ninu's Cave. Gozo has natural feats where land meets water which includes the Inland Sea, and Fungus Rock, both in Dwerja. All roads in the island lead to the citadel, Victoria, also known to locals as the Rabat, and is considered as the heart of Gozo, and center to daily economic and social activities.

Currently, the island is home to 31,000 Gozitans, and boasts nature's blessings celebrated in the Mediterranean, and the rest of the world.

2. History
The term Gozo was derived from the Castilian language meaning "joy". The island was occupied by many great men in the ancient times - Phoenicians, Romans, Aragonese, and Arabs - all leaving behind marks of their settlement fused through time in today's history and culture of Gozo.

The island has been identified with Ogygia, the home of Calypso, a nymph in love with the protagonist Odysseus in Homer's poem - the Odyssey. Another reason for Gozo's historical prominence is the Ggantija Temples, named after the Maltese word meaning "belonging to the giants". The temple is one of the oldest standing religious structures in the world.


A shot of the Citadel Fortification. Credit to lonelyplanet.com

3. To-do
There are a lot of activities to try in Gozo.For those wishing to visit the market center, It-Tokk is the place to go and wander about. There you will find places to shop and dine. You can also try the Arkadia Commercial Center which is the primary shopping place welcoming tourist upon entry to the Victoria. If you find yourself looking for local cuisines, you can try first-class to specialty restaurants complete with gorgeous views of the water.

Tourists looking for a taste of art in the island will taste great satisfaction upon visits to the Citadella Centre for Culture & Arts. The center exhibits Dominique Cianco's oil paintings, and has a theater, two multipurpose concert halls, and administrative offices. There are also theaters to enjoy like the Atra Theater, Oraturjo Don Bosco, and Aurora Opera House.

For those ready to take on Mother Nature, several of the outdoor activities to try are hiking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The most popular water activity is the scuba diving in Gozo.There are tons of diving companies who offer courses and diving trips in different diving sites. Their diving offers may include Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Courses, British Sub Aqua Club (BSAC) Courses, and Specialty Courses. Some of them also provide detailed diving courses, accommodations, services, and special packages tailored for the best experiences for tourists.