Postcards from Around the World

Remaining in the Mediterranean Sea, this week we are taking the ferry over from Malta to Gozo, the second largest island of the Maltese archipelago. It is a lot more rural and quieter where life seems a little slower. Β The island is only 26 square miles but packs in quite a lot.

You arrive at MΔ‘arr Harbour, with its quiet marina and church sitting on the hilltop overlooking the harbour.

We were on a day trip as it seemed the easiest way to explore the island since buses were fairly infrequent and we didn’t want the bother of hiring a car.

Azure Window before its collapse in March 2017

Our first stop was at Dwejra a small location on the West coast of the island of Gozo, known for its β€œinland sea” (small bay surrounded by high cliffs) and as the site where the Azure Window (naturally formed rock arch on the coast) could be found – we were lucky to see this, it collapsed during bad weather in March 2017.

Gozo (like Malta) is not short of churches and other religious buildings, every little village has its own church, often extremely large in comparison to the population they serve. This one is a much more modest one.

The chapel at Dwejra was the last to be built in the countryside in Gozo. It was designed by Joseph Mizzi from San Lawrenz. The chapel was blessed on 25th July 1963.

A much more imposing church is the Ta’ Pinu Basilica and Shrine (The Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu) close to GΔ§arb, which was a centre of pilgrimage. Β The chapel remains in tact behind the altar and still contains the painting of the Assumption to Heaven of Our Lady from which the voice is said to have spoken to Karmni Grima. There is an chapel inside with some very unusual offerings and messages from people who were blessed by a miracle,

Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu was built between 1920 and 1931. In 1883 a woman from the village of GΔ§arb, Karmni Grima, heard the voice of Our Lady at the small chapel that then occupied this site.

We visited Xlendi on the coast where we had a lovely walk along a promenade towards the tower with views along the coast with its high cliffs.

All roads in Gozo lead to the capital, ir-Rabat (Victoria), and, rising above it, the fortified Citadel accessible by a steep street climbing from Independence Square. Again you get incredible views over the entire island.

Citadel
Gozo Cathedral in the Citadel

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

31 thoughts on “Postcards from Around the World”

      1. We usually like to do our own thing but it’s not always easy. We did some fantastic day trips in Alaska to places we wouldn’t have been able to get to on our own.

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