THE P RTAL
February 2017 Page 19
The Island of Gozo
Mirabile Visu ! - ‘ Wonderful to behold ’ according to Donato Tallo
Situated approximately 50 miles south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea , the beautiful island of Gozo is part of the Maltese archipelago . Despite being separated from Malta by less than four miles of sea , Gozo is very much its own unique and distinct island .
The inhabitants of Gozo are known as Gozitans and the island has a very rich and fascinating history which in many ways has enabled the identity and style of the island to be so unique and charming . In 2014 it was identified by the Maltese authorities that there where approximately 37,000 inhabitants on the island and it is definitely fair to say that the island of Gozo is one where the local islanders are extremely friendly and welcoming and one where the scenery is quite frankly breathtaking .
One of the most beautiful aspects of Gozo is the fact that the island is quite clearly and distinctively Catholic . The skyline is dominated by churches , while statues , crosses , crucifixes and religious icons adorn street corners , houses and other buildings . It is an island where the Catholic Faith is quite clearly alive and active .
Gozo is a very rural island ; there are many hills throughout the island and it has been the filming location for many different films and television programmes . Gozo has a truly interesting history where human habitation dates back to around 5,000 BC with the earliest settlers generally believed to have come from Sicily .
Christianity was of course brought to the Maltese islands by St Paul in 60 AD and took hold under the Byzantines , who came from the Eastern Roman Empire . The history of what is really only a small island , part of a wider group of islands , is quite remarkable and is certainly worth exploring in some detail . Despite having an area of only 67 sq . km . Gozo is full of beauty and is certainly a place that I am sure no visitor would regret visiting .
Gozo , along with its sister island of Malta , has been of great military importance over the years . The islands ’ trade routes between Europe and Africa have made them politically both important and valuable .
There are many churches on the island of Gozo and the island forms its own diocese , the Diocese of Gozo , which is the only suffragan see of the Archdiocese of Malta , with its cathedral of the Assumption of Mary being located in Victoria .
The patron saint of the diocese is in fact St George and thus April 23rd is regarded a very important day . The Basilica and Collegiate Parish of St George in Victoria is a stunning baroque church located in the middle of a maze of narrow and beautiful little streets and alleyways and contains some wonderful statues and works of art .
The Citadella in Gozo , which is located in Victoria , has been certified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is visible from nearly all over the island . Known locally of the crown of Gozo , this medieval city in Victoria is where the diocesan cathedral is located and the fortified city affords the visitor some fantastic panoramic views of the beautiful island .
The charming island of Gozo has a great deal to offer the visitor ; it is an island that can provide a brilliant holiday destination and one that has a truly fascinating history that is really worth exploring .
A magna maxima - From great supreme is the motto of Victoria , the capital . It is an island that the people are rightly proud of and an island that is well worth a visit .