Gozo Holiday
You can't help but fall for this little island. A third the size of Malta, it's one of those rare places where tradition has proudly withstood time's relentless march. The kind of place where you'll cast your worries adrift on the gentle sea breeze the moment you step off the ferry. First things first, if you've come here looking for state-of-the-art attractions and a nightlife akin to that of club-cluttered Ibiza, then you've docked in the wrong island. In Gozo it's all about escaping the hullabaloo of the 21st-century and going back to the days of simple charms and laid-back pastimes. Lose yourself in Victoria's charming tangle of alleyways where the smell of home cooking mingles with the sweet scent of blooms. Pull up a chair in an outdoor café and tuck into sticky pastries and fresh coffee as everyday life unfolds around you. Or scale the heights of the rooftop citadel and soak up eye-popping panoramic views as you take a tour of the amber ramparts. Away from Gozo's main town, there's a sprinkling of sights that simply demand a place in your holiday photo album like the famous Ggantika Temples in Xaghra. Plus you'll encounter a coastline gilded with wonderfully untamed beaches that give way to a sea loved by scuba divers. Eccentric British poet Edward Lear summed Gozo up perfectly in a letter to Lady Waldegrave back in the 19th-century. He said: "Its coast scenery may truly be called pomskizillious and gromphibberous, being as no words can describe its magnificence." We couldn't have put it better ourselves.
"Step back in time at this sleepy island where life drifts by a pace matching the lazy sway of the tide."
Gozo Holiday - Beaches
Slip into your swimming gear, grab your towel and head for Ramla Bay, a 500 metre stretch of crimson sand sandwiched between rolling sand dunes and a sea that shimmers like diamonds. It's Gozo's best beach and, indeed, one of the finest in the Mediterranean, cradled between two headlands 3km north of Xaghra. Elsewhere, Gozo has some lovely beaches ranging from rocky inlets to red sandy swathes. The small beach at Xlendi is a great spot to soak up the sun, with a peppering of sea-facing cafés and restaurants where you can head for a drink and a meal. On the island's southeast tip, is San Blas, a small sandy beach untainted by tourism and perfect if you're searching for a little peace and quiet. If you're looking to get better acquainted with Gozo's underwater world, head to Dwerja, which offers some of the finest diving in the Mediterranean. Here, you'll also find the Azure Window, a huge natural window created by the waves pounding into the cliffs. And not far away is the Inland Sea, where the ocean spills through arches in the rock to create a massive pool ideal for swimming.
Shopping
When the shopping bug takes you, head for Victoria, Gozo's main town located slap bang in the middle of the island. Stretching from east to west, Republic Street, or Triq Ir-Repubblika, is where you'll find most of the town's shops. The Cittadella Centre shopping mall is definitely worth a look too, with stores devoted to perfume, clothes, leather and ceramics. Nearby, the main square, It Tokk, is the place to head for fresh fish, with a morning market that echoes with the bellows of jovial traders. In terms of what souvenirs to buy, traditional handicrafts give you the chance to take a small piece of Gozo home with you. Fabrics, embroidery, ceramics, jewellery and brightly-coloured Gozo glassware are easy to find, but the island is most famous for its delicate lace. Originally woven for the local churches, these days it's most commonly found in the shape of shawls and tablecloths. Call in at the little village of Sanat to buy some particularly good examples of the craft.
Nightlife
Gozo can never be described as two-faced. It's not one of those islands that's calm and laid-back by day, but come sunset morphs into a wild and hedonistic party animal. No. This little island is much more consistent, preferring to operate at one delightfully lazy pace. Here, mellow summer evenings are as laid-back as the days with a scattering of tiny bars, cosy restaurants and intimate discos providing the focal point for night-time entertainment. Victoria's central square, It Took - 'the meeting place' - has a concentration of pavement bars where you can watch the world wander by over a pitcher of ice-cold Maltese lager or a glass of Gozitan wine. In Xaghra's vibrant town square, Pjazza Vittorja, you'll find some great winebars to while away a warm moonlit night. Meanwhile, the quiet waterfront bars of Marsalforn and Xlendi make for a welcome pitstop after an evening stroll along their winding promenades.
Local Specialities
Almost everything served in Gozo's restaurants is plucked from its own green fields and the clear waters lapping its shores, although plenty of dishes have borrowed from the cookbooks of its Mediterranean neighbours. Swordfish, squid and giant prawns are among the favourite seafood dishes served up, and if you like fish, lampuki pie is definitely one to try. The white fish is mixed with spinach, cauliflower, chestnuts and sultanas and encased in a crumbly shortcrust pastry. Fenkata is another one to look out for on the menu, comprising rabbit and potatoes stewed in a wine and tomato sauce. And if you're a fan of pizzas, you'll love Gozitan ftajjar, rustic pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven and piled high with fresh ingredients. Favourite finger foods on the island include hot pastizzi, pockets of puff pastry stuffed with ricotta, peas and meat. Meanwhile, cheese-lovers will want to try gbejna, a goat's cheese that originates from Gozo. Available pickled, peppered, dried or fresh, it also appears among a medley of homegrown vegetables in the popular widow's soup. Eaten with a chunk of oven-hot fresh bread it's a simple but tasty meal that'll definitely hit the spot.