Malta-Gozo Info Source

Malta-Gozo District Source

• VICTORIA. Victoria is the main city in Gozo. Gozo is also known as the Isle of Calypso, it is an island on the North of the Maltese archipelago.All roads in Gozo lead to Victoria, or Rabat, as the locals call it. A visit to Gozo should begin in Victoria, the island''s capital. Victoria is not just the geographic heart of Gozo, it is also the centre of everyday activity. It is a great place to watch the Islanders go about their daily business, especially when the market square, It-Tokk, comes to life. The square also contains the Citadel (often known as the Gran Castello), a strategic point which owes its origins to the late mediaeval era, and which was re-fortified by the Knights of the Order of St. John. You can get to Victoria (20km from Valetta) by bus or taxi from Valletta to the port of Cirkewwa and from Cirkewwa you can board the ferry. On arrival in Gozo you can take the bus or taxi to the city of Victoria.
  
• Bahar Ic-Caghaq is a small village located between the limits of Madliena, Maghtab, Ghargur and Pembroke. It is situated at the mouth of the longest valley called ‘Wied il-Kbir’. Bahar ic-Caghaq in Maltese means ‘sea of pebbles’ in English’. The area has been traditionally allocated to one of the nicest bathing spots on the island and as the name suggests, one may find a long rocky coast characterised by a large number of pebbles and sharp rocks. Bahar ic-Caghaq is also well known for the ''White Rocks'' bathing area, a limited number of bars and restaurants, a boy-scout camping site and a very popular ice-cream kiosk.
  
  
  
  
  
• SWIEQI.Swieqi is a town in the northeast of Malta. The name Swieqi comes from the watering channels that used to criss-cross what used to be farm land. It is situated 15 minutes by bus from Sliema. Its quiet environment and central location, combined with its beautiful townhouses have made it popular with the upper-middle class population of the island. In fact, vacant property in this area is notorious for its scarcity. Swieqi’s population has risen over the years. It now accommodates 8,099 people and is essentially a dormitory town, although a number of cottage, service industries, mainly in IT and English language schools are now taking root.
  
  
  
• MALTA SOUTH. The island''s capital Valletta, is located on the north coast of Malta. Birżebbuġa is one of the most important cities of the south coast with a beautiful port, in the Marsaxlokk Bay. The city is known for Ice Age fossils discoveries in the close cave Għar Dalam. Also an attraction worth seeing is the church. The ancient port of town Marsaxlokk was used at the time of the Phoenicians and later on with the Romans. One of the main tourist attractions of Malta are the traditional fishing boats painted and decorated with colours and eyes (Luzzus), as well as the many ancient cars.
  On Malta you must drive on the left side, and perhaps the Maltese driving style can frighten some tourists. Public transport is composed mainly by buses. Malta International Airport is located at Luqa. There are ferry connections between Valletta and Catania and to Salerno and Reggio di Calabria in Italy, as well as to the “next-door” island Gozo.
  
• MALTA NORTH. On the north coast of the island of Malta is situated the capital Valletta. On of the attraction in the city is the old port "Grand Harbor". You will also find many historic cafes, restaurants, banks and public gardens. Along the northern coast there are numerous bays with rocks or beaches. The most popular bays are for sure St. Paul''s Bay, and also Mellieħas Bay, with the longest sandy beach of the island. This is the most northern point of the island. From Marfa Ridge you can take the ferry to the neighbour islands Gozo and Comino, or make boat excursions or diving.
  The route from Valletta to the islands of Gozo and Comino was and is an important transhipment point for goods of the surrounding countries. There are many buses to move around the island.
  
• GOZO. The 67 km2 large island Gozo is situated 6 km northwest to Malta. The capital is Victoria (Rabat), while in the other parts there are mostly little towns or villages (Xlendi, Marsalforn and Mgarr, Zebbug, Qala, Xaghra and Nadur). In West Gozo you can find the main attractions of the island: a small saltwater lake (the “Inland Sea”,), the natural rocks called Fungus Rock or Azure Window (Zerka Gate) and the salt mines. On the north coast, east to Marsalforn, you can find the Calypso Cave, the saga says that Odysseus lived there for seven years with the nymph Calypso. From the "Mgarr" Port of Gozo there is every 45 minutes (during the day) a car ferry leaving to the Northern coast of Malta, "Cirkewwa”. On Gozo you must drive on the left. There are several buses from the main bus station in Victoria to the various villages, until the coast.