Gozo Off The Beaten Path

Our jeep driver took us to a vantage point high above Mgarr harbour (not to be confused with Mgarr on Malta! From this place we had this lovely view of the Maltese archipelago - Malta in the far distance, Gozo in the foreground with the smaller isle of Comino and even smaller Cominotto in-between.
The blue lagoon is situated in the channel between Comino and Cominotto.

In the village of Fontana a spring was found and a shelter built around it for the locals to wash their clothes in In the Maltese language, a place for washing clothes is called Ghajn tal-Hasselin. and this is what we saw here. Apparently others can be seen in Msida and Rabat on Malta.

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Ta' Kola windmill, built in 1725 is only three minutes walk from Ggantija Temples in Xaghra . Ta' Kola is one of the windmills financed by built by Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena. It was equipped with a large water cistern, a workshop, and living quarters for the miller and his family. The miller apart from maintaining and operating the windmill, used to perform many other secondary jobs. When wind conditions were favourable, the miller used to sound a large seashell. This served as a signal to the locals who would take their wheat to be processed by the miller.Today, the mill displays a vast array of tools, some of which were originally manufactured by the owners of the mill. On the first floor, the living quarters of the miller have been recreated using traditional furniture and items related to Gozitan crafts such as weaving and lace-making. You can also see the internal and external mechanisms of the windmill, which are still in working order.
This windmill is one of the last few well preserved windmills in the Maltese islands. Follow the signs to Kola Windmill from Ggantija temples. You can buy a day ticket to visit both attractions. Click on pic to see more photos inside the windmills.

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One of the nicest spots in Gozo, the Jordan Hill has a functional lighthouse built in mid 19th century. Overlooking most of the island, right on top of Ta'Pinu Basilica and the Cross Hill. Perfect views of the North Gozo coast and quilted field all around.
Getting there - As you reach Ta'Pinu Basilica, follow the signs from there. It's about 25 mins walk (one way) from the Basilica.

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Located at half way from Malta to Gozo, the small island of Comino, with its surface of only one square mile, it is the third inhabited island of the archipelago and a natural reserve.

Among the places of interest on the island are: Santa Marija Tower, the most visible landmark of the island that houses today a small army unit, Santa Marija Battery erected in 1715, Santa Marija Chapel built in 1618, Santa Marija Cave and the famous Blue Lagoon a natural sea pool of unique azure colour.

For more details visit my Comino Island page.

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Similar to the bigger inhabited island of the archipelago, Malta, many small or more imposing churches and chapels are spread all over the island of Gozo.

Built in towns or in the middle of nowhere, the churches are authentic proofs of the impressive faith of the Maltese people.

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Visiting Malta's most impressive pilgrimage destination is a fantastic occasion to participate to a mass in Ta' Pinu Sanctuary.

This certainly is a touching experience for everybody.

We have asked the permission to celebrate the mass in Romanian in a chapel of the sanctuary but the curators have been much more generous allowing us to celebrate the mass on the main altar.

And this was one of the most special moments of our trip!

For more details visit my Gharb and Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary page.

From the Ggantija temples plateau, everyone has the opportunity to admire a magnificent view of the surroundings as far as to the lovely village of Xewkija, the oldest in Gozo, situated between Ghajnsielem and the capital town, Victoria.

The magnificent Rotunda, the parish church dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is Xewkija's distinctive landmark and raises up in the middle of the agricultural fields.