Things
to do in Gozo
 Traditional Crafts
Malta’s jewellers have a worldwide reputation
for quality and craftsmanship. Craftsmen work
in both silver and gold. Choose from intricate
silver filigree broaches, bracelets and earrings
or classic designs in gold. Traditional handcrafted glass is produced across
the Islands. Some factories in the craft villages
of Malta and Gozo are open for visits. Favourite
objects include vases and figurines sometimes
swirled with Mediterranean-inspired hues of blue.
Potteries produce too vast a range of items to
describe, but there is something for everyone
from practical items for the house to more decorative
objects. Factories in the craft villages of Malta
and Gozo are open for visits and you will be
able to craftspeople at work.
Basketware and wickerwork are local crafts with
a practical purpose. Maltese homes use cane blinds,
hasira, on doors and windows to cut out the harsh
summer sun. But there are numerous smaller items
to take home.
If you’re visiting Gozo in high summer,
don’t be surprised to find heavy-knit sweaters
on display all over the Island. Plan for winter
and stock up with colourful and classic pure-wool
knits. Woven wool rugs in cream and white are
also favourite buys.
Gozo is also famed for its fine lace. Women
still perch outside on doorsteps working the
bobbin. There has been a revival in recent years
in this traditional craft.
Basketware
Fabrics and Knitwear
Lace-making
Maltese Clocks
Pottery and Glassware
Silverware and Filigree
Fishing
Gozo lies away from the heavily fished areas
of the Mediterranean and spectacular catches
of large fish are still made. Swordfish and
Tuna are regularly caught. The speciality of
the Gozitan fishermen is ‘Lampuki’ or
El Dorado Fish. This gleaming jewel-like fish
is caught in abundance from mid-August until
the beginning of December. Every fisherman plants his own set of up to
150 floats, on a set course, leading away from
the island. Under the floats the fishermen hang
bunches of palm leaves, which are an attractive
shelter for the migrating fish. The floats can
be up to 60 miles out and anchored in 10,000
feet of water.
Lampuki is an exciting fish to catch. Plastic
squid with hooks are trolled behind the boat,
which steers close to the floats. On seeing the
bait, the Lampuki makes chase, its glittering
body jumping out of the water. Once hooked there
is quite a fight. The fish, which is caught by
hand-lines, has to be swiftly and smoothly hauled
in before the catch is secured.
We would strongly recommend
that anyone with ‘sea
legs’ takes at least one’ days outing
on a fishing boat whilst on Gozo. The best season
is the Lampuki Season, but it can still be a
lot of fun fishing closer to the shore at any
time of the year.
Wind Surfing
As Gozo is a small island it can usually provide
the required weather conditions. For example,
the novice can use a beach on the lee shore
of the island and the expert can travel a
short distance to the opposite side of the
island
to find stronger winds.
Snorkelling
Snorekelling is an easy means of getting a look
at undersea Gozo. The best under-water scenery
and the largest concentration of marine life
are found along rocky shores amid boulders
in the nooks and crannies. On rocky surfaces
and clefts created by boulder heaps you can
explore some colorful growths of soft coral.
Gozo Marine life offers rich pickings such
as cluster of urchins, common octopus and the
amazing red starfish.
Swimming
Swimming is the easiest way to enjoy the water,
not to mention cool off and have a sociable
time.
Bird watching
Gozo offers fairly good bird watching, particularly
during spring and autumn months when migratory
birds cross the Mediterranean. Some 320 species
have been recorded here, 13 of which are resident
birds. The most spectacular are the birds of
prey, mainly kestrels, harriers and honey buzzards.
Rock Climbing
Gozo is an undiscovered haven for rock climbers.
Cliffs gridle virtually the entire northwest
coasts and there are also stretches of inland
cliffs. The fact that many stretches of cliffs
are uncharted makes climbing in Gozo more exciting.
The recorded climbs, moreover are unbolted,
a legacy honoured by the small circuit of local
climbers to keep the cliffs more challenging.
Eating Out
Gozo has an outstanding range of restaurants. From
the simple to the superb, you will be pleasantly
surprised at the price of all the price of all
meals.
Festivals
If there is one thing Gozitans are addicted
to it is fireworks. Every tiny village
on the
island will have it’s own festival
and firework display.
The festivals highlight strength of the community.
Everyone has his or her role-play in the event
that will last day and night of the entire weekend.
Every street is adorned with bunting, and hundreds
of brightly painted Saints create avenues to
the church square.
At the frenzied peak of celebrations an effigy
of the Patron Saint is carried on the shoulders
towards to church. Bands play, confetti pours
in to the crowds. Tremendous bangs are followed
by a phantasmagoria of colour sky. The atmosphere
is electric.
Few summer visitors will miss this opportunity
to partake in this jocularity. There is a festival
every weekend from the first Sunday in June to
the second Sunday of September.
Diving
Gozo offers some of the best diving sites, not only in the Maltese Islands, but
to some extent even in the world. The island's coast displays a variety of bays,
coves and sea inlets with natural caves of all shapes and sizes. In the sea around
Gozo one finds an abundance of marine life and spectacular scenery all around.
Divers might even be lucky to encounter some archaeological remains. They could
also dive through an artificial reef in the form of a purposely-sunken ferryboat
that has become one of Gozo's diving mainstays. Water visibility is most often
40 meters and sea temperatures rarely go lower than 16 degrees Celsius.
Natural Attractions
The deep blue Mediterranean Sea, which surrounds
the Maltese Islands, is full of natural wonders
and distinctive beauty. Whether visitors are
under or above the water, there are various sites
that can be visited and appreciated for all that
they are.
The strong topographic structures of the Maltese
Islands also continue underwater, so visitors
can find a most bizarre underwater landscape
of the Mediterranean, with an abundance of caves,
holes, grottos and crevices. Caves that equal
in size to a large sports hall are not unusual
and there are some wrecks of ships and aircraft
around Malta, which also have become the home
to a multitude of underwater life.
Blue Grotto
Calypso's Cave
The Inland Sea
The Azure Window
Xerri's Grotto
Ninu's Cave
Dingli Cliff
Theatres
Theatre has always been a lively and well-represented part of the local cultural
scene. A variety of local and international drama, dance and music troupes
perform on the Islands, creating a very vibrant theatrical calendar of events.
Gozo holds two theatres, each one extremely popular with their opera calendar.
Countryside
Walks
Due to the undoubtedly great advantage of fair weather (average rainfall
of 578mm a year and average temperature of 30C/86F during the summer months),
the Maltese Islands lend themselves to outdoor activities.
Away from the hustle and bustle of village cores, the Maltese Islands
offer various natural spots to be explored and admired, some left almost
untouched by the 20th century. Much of the countryside is dotted with the
world's oldest free-standing structures in the world, so a stroll could
prove to be most interesting.
Between Autumn and late Spring Gozo's countryside springs into life
with an incredible array of natural views and breathtaking panoramas. The
overall greenery quickly subdues the golden yellow Summer scenery as early
as the first rain showers of September quench our dry soil.
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