Gozo, Mediterranean island in Malta
Gozo is a Mediterranean island lying west of mainland Malta, separated by a narrow channel. The terrain consists of limestone cliffs in the north, flat valleys in the center, and sandy coves along the coastline.
Neolithic settlers arrived around 5000 BC and later built the Ġgantija temples. Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, and the Knights of St. John controlled the territory in succession before it became part of the independent Republic of Malta in 1964.
The place carries the Maltese name Għawdex, derived from an Arabic word referring to gentle hills. Across the countryside, small chapels and churches appear along roadsides and in fields, built by farmers and fishermen over the centuries.
Ferry connections from Mġarr Harbor run throughout the day and bring visitors across to the main island in about 25 minutes. During summer months, a constant breeze keeps temperatures more comfortable than on Malta itself.
A natural stone arch called the Azure Window once stood on the western coast until it collapsed into the sea during a storm in 2017. Divers now visit the underwater remains, where new marine life has started to settle.
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