As of 2021, the island has a population of around 39,287 (out of Malta's total 443,227),[10] and its inhabitants are known asGozitans (Maltese:Għawdxin). It is rich in historic locations such as theĠgantija temples, which, along with the otherMegalithic Temples of Malta, are amongst the world's oldest free-standing structures.[11]
The island is rural in character and less developed than the island of Malta. Gozo is known for its scenic hills, which are featured on itscoat of arms.[12] TheAzure Window in Dwejra,San Lawrenz, a natural limestone arch, was a remarkable geological feature until its collapse on March 8, 2017. The island has other notable natural features, including theInland Sea andWied il-Mielaħ Window. There are a few sandybeaches on the island, namelyRamla Bay inXagħra andNadur, as well as seaside resorts that are popular with both locals and tourists, the most popular beingMarsalforn andXlendi. Gozo is considered one of the top diving destinations in the Mediterranean and a centre for water sports.[13]
The name of the island inMaltese isGħawdex, itself descended fromArabic غَوْدَش (ḡawdaš), ultimately from thePhoenician root 𐤂-𐤅-𐤋 (g-w-l).[14] In Classical times it was known asGaulos (Γαῦλος), later asGaudos, from which the Arabic name derives.[15]
The English name is from Aragonese after they conquered it in 1282. The word Gozo means "joy" in Castilian Spanish.[16]
Gozo has been inhabited since 5000 BC, when farmers from nearbySicily crossed the sea to the island.[17] Due to the discovery of similar pottery found in both places from theGħar Dalam phase, it has been suggested that the firstcolonists were specifically from the area ofAgrigento; however, it is currently unknown exactly where in Sicily the farmers came from. They are thought to have first lived in caves on the outskirts of what is nowSan Lawrenz.[17]
Gozo was an important place for cultural evolution, and during theNeolithic period theĠgantija temples were built; they are amongst the world's oldest free-standing structures, as well as the world's oldest religious structures. The temple's name isMaltese for "belonging to the giants", because legend in Maltese and Gozitan folklore says the temples were built by giants.[11] Another important Maltese archaeological site in Gozo, which dates back to the Neolithic period, is theXagħra Stone Circle. Also, native tradition and certain ancient Greek historians (notablyEuhemerus andCallimachus) maintain that Gozo is the islandHomer described asOgygia, home of the nymphCalypso.[18]Diodorus Siculus writes that the island had many well harbours.[19]
Gozo was occupied by theCarthaginians, who built a temple toAstarte on the islands.[20]At some point in time most probably it fell to the Greeks, because of local coins on the island with the Greek inscription ΓΑΥΛΙΤΩΝ.[21] It was probably annexed byRome around 218BC and minted its ownbronze coins in the 1st centuryBC. These feature Astarte's head with a crescentobverse and a warrior, a star, and the legendGaulitōn (Ancient Greek:ΓΑΥΛΙΤΩΝ)reverse.[20]
TheGozo Civic Council was set up as a statutory local government in the island of Gozo on 14 April 1961, the first experiment in civil local government in Malta since Gozo's short period of autonomy between 1798 and 1800. The law authorised the council to raise taxes, although it never actually made use of this power. In 1971, theMalta Labour Party was voted into office. As its support in Gozo was weak and it favoured a more centralised administration, it proposed a referendum on the abolition of the council, putting emphasis on the unpopular possibility of its raising taxes. In theGozo Civic Council referendum, 1973, 76.97% voters voted for the abolition of the Gozo Civic Council.[24]
In the mid-1980s, attempts were made to set up a Gozo committee, chaired by theprime minister and with the Gozitanmembers of Parliament as members. However, it was only in 1987 that theMinistry of Gozo was set up (demoted to a parliamentary secretariat between 1996 and 1998). Local government in the Gozitan localities was restored with the introduction oflocal councils in 1993 with Gozo having 14 councils.[25]
The island has its own Latin bishopric, theRoman Catholic Diocese of Gozo, the onlysuffragan of the MetropolitanArchbishop of Malta. Gozo contains a large number of Catholic churches. TheRotunda of Xewkija, in the village ofXewkija, has a capacity of 3,000, enough for the entire population of Xewkija village; its dome is larger than that ofSt Paul's Cathedral in London. The church bells are rung daily for thecanonical hours Matins, Lauds, Terce, Sext, None and vespers. The most famous church on the island is the sanctuary ofTa' Pinu, near the village ofGħarb, in the northwest of Gozo.[26]
The islands have historically been connected by air and sea links.[27] However, a helicopter service which connected the two ceased operations in 2006.[28]
MVTa' Pinu, one of the four ferries operated by the Gozo Channel Line, on its way from Gozo toĊirkewwa.View of Mġarr, port of island of Gozo
Visitors can currently reach the island by ferry. There are regular crossings between the port ofMġarr on Gozo andĊirkewwa on the northwest coast of Malta. TheGozo Channel Line makes the trip every 45 minutes during the summer and almost as often in the winter. A return journey costs €4.65 and takes around 25 minutes each way. The service is used by tourists and commuters (including Gozitan students who study at theUniversity of Malta), and is also used to transport goods between the islands. Each year, the route is used by around 1.1 million cars, and many more foot passengers.[29] On arrival at Mġarr, visitors can take one of the 'Hop On Hop Off' buses, which depart from outside the ferry terminal and operate on a timetable synchronised to the ferry timetables. Public buses, taxis and hire cars are also available.[30]
Gozo Fast Ferry, an independently operated company, offers approximately 45-minute crossings between theGrand Harbour inValletta, Malta and the port of Mġarr, Gozo. The ferries can seat 300 passengers and can reach a top speed of 32 knots. The ferries operate Monday through Friday and make five round trips daily. The round trip fare for Gozitan residents is €4.50 and for non-resident adults is €12.00.[31]
Several proposals have been made to construct a road link between Malta and Gozo. In 1972[29] the newly elected Labour Party administration carried out a feasibility study that concluded building a bridge between the two islands was possible, but would have negative environmental effects. A tunnel was also considered, but found to be too expensive at the time.[32] An online poll byThe Times of Malta in 2006 found that 55% of respondents supported a road link.[33]
In June 2013 a "mega Chinese state-owned company"China Communications Construction Corporation Limited will finance a €4 million study to assess the feasibility of a bridge between Malta and Gozo. "Depending on the feasibility of the tunnel and bridge projects, popular consultation will take place giving particular weight to what Gozitans have to say."[34] "Gozo MinisterAnton Refalo alluded to the possibility of calling a referendum to determine whether Gozitans prefer a tunnel or a bridge to connect Malta and Gozo".[35]
The study found out that the bridge would take four years to build and construction would cost €1 billion. Apart from this, operation and maintenance costs are estimated to cost up to €4 million every year; China Communications Construction Corporation Limited proposed to build the bridge by 2020.[36][37]
The idea of building a bridge is opposed by environmentalists and NGOs such asDin l-Art Ħelwa and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar.[38][39]
An 11 km underground sub-seabed tunnel has been proposed in a report on the viability of a Gozo-Malta tunnel link by theGozo Business Chamber (GBC) together withTransport Malta (TM). The Gozo Business Chamber is organising a presentation by economist Gordon Cordina, of the detailed report about the feasibility of a 'Gozo-Malta Subsea Tunnel.[40] In 2015, members from the GBC together with representatives from TM also visited Norway, where they spoke with experts, and toured several underwater tunnels.[41]
In December 2015, a group of students joined forces to create 'Front Favur il-Mina' to support a permanently-connected, tunnel project between Malta and its sister island. Several MPs endorsed the group.[42] A catamaran service (fast ferry) to Gozo, ferry trips from the Grand Harbour and ultimately a tunnel linking Malta with the sister island are the main proposals pushed forward by the pressure group.[43] Addressing a conference in Gozo organised by the pro-tunnel movement,Joseph Muscat said "The government intends to move forward with a project linking the two islands." Furthermore, former opposition leaderSimon Busuttil confirmed during the same conference, that theNationalist Party was in favour of the project and willing to cooperate with the government.[44]
TheUniversity of Malta carried out geological and geophysical investigations in connection with a proposed sub-sea tunnel between Malta and Gozo following an agreement with Transport Malta. Scientific investigations included both desktop and field studies, passive seismic measurements, bathymetric mapping, and a seismic study. The University of Malta conducted a marine baseline study which incorporated a geological model oftopography,stratigraphy, structure, geological, geophysical and tectonic properties of the study area.[45] During this phase of the study, scientists deployed a 300-metre-long cable with a series of specialised receptors. An 'air gun' released bursts of compressed air every few metres. The compressed air was reflected to the receptors. Different geological layers reflect different frequencies. Scientists could thus determine the geological formations that lie beneath the surface and determine possible cracks. Following such tests, more tests will be carried out; these will consist in the drilling of a series of boreholes, up to 200 metres below the sea bed, to determine the rock strata below the surface.[46]
"Expressions of interest have been issued for a fastcatamaran service between Gozo and Valletta as well as between Gozo andSicily." In June 2013, the services would be aimed for use by both tourists and the Maltese and would involve public service obligations.[35]
An airstrip for fixed-wing aircraft on Gozo was proposed in the 1990s, but rejected for environmental reasons.[32]In June 2013 the government announced a plan "to issue a call forexpressions of interest for the operation of a scheduled air service between Malta and Gozo".[47]
Many of the distances within villages are negligible and some of the roads are fairly quiet to walk along. However, there is often heavy traffic in the capital,Victoria and between Victoria and Mġarr. There is also a footpath network, although the paths require good shoes and are not always clearly marked on the ground. There are longer distances if travelling between different villages, ranging from 1 to 5 km (1 to 3 mi) from one village to the next.[48]
AlthoughArriva ceased to operate in Gozo and Malta in January 2014, their old vehicles have been retired since 2016 and most routes remain the same, although there have been some amendments and additions. The most noticeable change at the moment is that the discrepancy between resident and non-resident fares has been abolished with all passengers now paying €2.50 for a 2-hour ticket, although other fares apply for theTallinja Card holders.[49] However, as from October 2022, riding a bus in both Malta and Gozo has become free for residents of Malta. The Explorer Card is valid for 7-days, costs 35€ and gives you unlimited travel by bus. The user can hop on and off anytime and has some benefits like cheaper Tallinja bikes.
A 'Hop-on, Hop-off' tourist bus service operates in Gozo. The open top bus tour of Gozo starts from the harbour ofMġarr and there are stops located along the route.[50] In Gozo, there are 2 providers,City Sightseeing Gozo and Gozo Sightseeing.[51]
As of 2021, the island has a population of 39,287,[1] of whom 7,242 live in its capital cityVictoria. Since the 2011 census, the population increased by 25%.
Gozo is famed for its places of interest. Some of these includeCalypso's Cave (fromHomer's Odyssey, where the island is calledOgygia) and theĠgantija Neolithic temples which are amongst the oldest surviving man-made structures.[52]
Gozo covers 67 square kilometres (26 sq mi), approximately the same area asNew York City'sManhattan island. It lies approximately 6 kilometres (4 mi) northwest of Malta, is of oval form, and is 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) long and 7.25 kilometres (4.50 mi) wide.[53]
Gozo is known to be very hilly. Research shows that there are at least 31hills andhillocks on the small island. The best known "three hills" are theXagħra hill, theNadur hill, andŻebbuġ. Other smaller hills and hillocks includeIl-Gelmus, Ta' Ġordan, and ta' Dabrani.[55][56]
Gozo is known forNadur carnival. Feasts are important traditions on the island and are held in honour of the patron saint of each village. The celebrations include religious ceremonies,fireworks and live band music, some featurehorse racing, concerts, and a greasy pole competition over the water.[57]
The local feast allows time for Gozitans to meet. InNadur, many locals dress up in colourful, outrageous carnival costumes, with the intention of not being recognised.[58][59]
Gozo has two opera houses. Astra and Aurora are owned by rival band clubs that both trace their founding to 1863. For over a century, they have been one-upping each other in everything from musical performances to feast-day celebrations. Once, when Aurora heard rumors that Astra planned to bring a horse onstage during a performance ofAida, the competing house—which was presenting its ownAida—secretly casttwo horses. Some locals on the island compare the rivalry to anarms race.[62]
During the summer months on Gozo, theMaltese wall lizard is often seen. The lizard was originally thought to be a variety of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) of mainland Europe. For example, the naturalistAndrew Leith Adams writing in 1870 reported "the common lizard (Podarcis muralis)" as occurring on the islands. In 1876,Dr. J. Bedriaga named this Maltese varietyLacerta filfolensis since the animals he studied came from the islet ofFilfla.[63] Later studies, however, showed that the lizards of the Maltese Islands were actually quite different from the common wall lizard or any other species in the region and therefore Bedriaga'sL. filfolensis became established as a distinct species whose full modern name isPodarcis filfolensis – the Maltese wall lizard.[64]
The island of Gozo has its ownnational football team. Because Gozo is a part of Malta and not an independent state, this team is not official and is thereby on theN.F.-Board.Gozo F.C. used to represent Gozo in the Maltese League, whilst aGozo Football League is also maintained. Football on the island is managed by theGozo Football Association.There is also arugby club in Gozo; the Gozo Rugby Club opened its doors in 2011 and nowadays competes in the Malta Rugby Football Union and Malta Rugby League competition.[65]
The Malta campus ofQueen Mary University of London is based in Gozo. It is designated an undergraduate medical school, with the same curriculum taught as the main UK campus.[66] There is a branch ofMCAST inGħajnsielem as well.[67]
Gozo was used to depict "Resolution Island" in the 1953 filmSingle-Handed, based onC. S. Forester's bookBrown on Resolution. For much of the film, the German raiderEssen (depicted byHMS Manxman) is holed up in the semi-circularDwejra Bay, behindFungus Rock on the west coast of Gozo, and there are several scenes set amongst the desolatelimestone cliffs above the bay as Able Seaman Brown single-handedly detains the German ship until her pursuers can catch up with her.[68]
In 1969,Anthony Newley directed the beach scenes ofCan Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? starringJoan Collins at Ramla Bay.[69]
Two days of shooting in Gozo's strong Mediterranean light provided shots used to represent the desolate surface of the alien planet in the 1981 British horror filmInseminoid.[71]
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