Gozo - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

*Lars* · 03-08-2009, 04:08 AM

Gozo has an area of 67 square kms, is 14 kms long and 7 kms wide. With a coastline of 43 km, it is the second largest island of the Maltese Archipelago that, together with the smaller isle of Comino and the main island of Malta form the Republic of Malta.
Gozo is popularly called The Island of Calypso, that is a nickname originating from the Greek mythological location of Ogygia referred to in Homer's Odyssey. In this epic poem, the fabled island was controlled by the nymph Calypso, who had detained the Greek hero Odysseus for seven long years as prisoner of love.

The Maltese Islands are situated in the centre of the Mediterranean - 93 km south of Italy and 290 km north of North Africa. Gozo lies about 5 km in the North West of Malta and the distance between Ċirkewwa in Malta and Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, involves a 25 minute ferry crossing. It therefore enjoys warm summers and mild winters and this makes it the ideal holiday destination at any time of the year.

n comparison with mainland Malta, one finds a more varied geology and larger relief contrasts, with typical flat-topped hills. Over 31000 people inhabit the island and this amounts to one-twelfth of the overall population of Malta. When compared to the overall area of the Maltese Islands, Gozo covers approximately one-third of that area. This means that the island of Gozo is not overpopulated, and therefore greener and quite more peaceful.

The main sources of income are from Tourism and Agriculture.

*Lars* · 03-08-2009, 04:10 AM

POPULATION Gozo was first inhabited before the Neolithic Period (ca. 4th Millenium BC). Even so, according to archaeological finds, this means that Gozo received its first inhabitants from Sicily before mainland Malta. Today's Gozitan has typical Mediterranean features that closely match with Spanish or Italian looks. Gozitans are renowned hard-workers, religiously influenced and with an admirable sence of hospitality. The population of Gozo stands at about 31,000 and is distributed amongst Victoria and the surrounding thirteen villages.

* LANGUAGE The official language is Maltese which is spoken in a distinguished dialect that amazingly differs slightly from one village to another. As applies for the whole Maltese islands, the language has Semitic origins and Romance influences, while the English language stands as the second official language.

* RELIGION Religion is predominantly Roman Catholic. The village parish church is evidently the nucleus of local life and there are over 40 churches and chapels scattered around the island. Gozo has its own Diocese and its Seminary since 1864. The Bishop of Gozo has his seat at the Gozo Cathedral in Victoria.

* CROSSING FROM MALTA Gozo could be reached in two ways; either by Ferry or by Seaplane. The most common is the Ferry service between Mgarr Harbour in Gozo and Cirkewwa Harbour in Malta, with a basically roll-on/roll-off schedule. However, there is a convenient Seaplane service operating between Valletta Waterfront in Malta and Mgarr Harbour Gozo.

* TRANSPORT Transport is provided by a fair service of buses from Mgarr to Victoria and vice-versa and from Victoria to all towns and villages in Gozo. The main bus terminus is situated in Victoria and route numbers are on the front of the buses. Taxi stands are found in Victoria and Mgarr. One can also go around in hired cars, motorbikes and bicycles. In Gozo as in Malta and Britain, vehicle traffic travels on the left-hand side of the road. The relatively short travel distances make trekking and hiking in Gozo a worthwhile venture.

* CLIMATE The climate is typically Mediterranean. It is generally mild in winter save for the first four to six weeks of the year when it is normally a bit cool, wet and sometimes unpredictable. The average temperature for winter is 16 degrees Celsius and it covers the period between December and March. Summer is rather long, dry and sunny, with August being the warmest month. The average temperature for summer is 25 degrees Celsius and it covers the period between April and November.

* CURRENCY The Maltese currency since January 2008 is the Euro.

*Lars* · 03-08-2009, 04:30 AM

What to see and do in Gozo:

Prehistoric Sites, Museums & Historic Shows
The whole island of Gozo is a showplace of the life and customs of a typical Mediterranean community. Several specific places pinpoint different facets of this life throughout the times.

Cathedral Museum
This is the largest single showplace in Gozo and includes the Cathedral Archives, the Picture Gallery and the Silver-Vault.
Open Mondays to Saturdays, except Public Holidays 10:00am - 4:00pm

Citadel Armory
The large hall, restored by the Order to St. John in 1776 and probably used as Armoury by the Knights, houses a good cross-section of armour and other interesting items formerly belonging to the Knights of Malta.
Open Winter 8:30am - 4:30pm; Summer 08:30am - 6:30pm; Sunday closure at 3:00pm; Closed on Public Holidays.

Folklore Museum
HOused in a group of houses with Sicilian-Catalan architectural features - unique in the Maltese Islands - the Museum offers a most iteresting display of household goods and implements employed by the working classes of Gozo in bygone times. There is also a mill for grinding corn in its original room.
Open Winter 8:30am - 4:30pm; Summer 8:30am - 6:40pm; Sundays closure at 3:00pm; Closed on Public Holidays.

Galleria Gaulos
cultural display encompassing the Visual Arts - paintings, ceramics and stone sculptures by local and foriegn artists, including etchings by the world famous Victor Pasmore. Admission Free.
Open Mondays to Saturdays - 10:00am - 4:00pm

The small island of Gozo have as many as 19 Archaeology sites, most of them dating back 3500 years and more.

The most famous are:

ĠGANTIJA TEMPLES

* Entrance fee: €3.04 / Lm1.50
* Students aged 12 to 17 years, Student Card holders, Kartanzjan holders, or persons over 60 years of age pay €1.52/ Lm0.75c. Children aged 6 to 11 years pay €1.16 /Lm0.50c, while children up to 5 years old enter free.
* A Multi Site ticket of €4.66 /Lm2.00 is valid for an additional visit to the nearby Ta' Kola Windmill if visited in the same day.
* Visiting Hours: Mon to Sun 9.00am to 5.00pm.
* Visitors are welcome not later than 30 minutes before closing time.
* Closed: 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January, Good Friday
* Telephone no 21553194
* Bus no. 64 / 65 (from Victoria Terminus)

*Lars* · 03-08-2009, 04:47 AM