The quaint little sister isle of Malta has its own unique and rather charming character
Gozo is beautiful. Its attraction never diminishes and there are clear reasons why.
It retains an authentic Mediterranean charm
While such character persists in some rural areas of Malta, in Gozo they are the order of the day. Old farmhouses standing lonely in the middle of nowhere, quaint streets featuring Maltese balconies and niches with saints all abound. You will also see tiny village grocers with beaded curtains, and a proud cock or a few ducks on the roadside. Gozo seems to be a place where time stands still, sheltered from the modernisation that has inevitably changed the face of mainland Malta.
It is green everywhere you look
A great view is also the order of the day. You never need to walk very far to reach a wide open space where all you see are green fields with a few scattered buildings or the wide expanse between sea and sky. Gozo farmhouses (centuries old buildings that usually include a pool, jacuzzi and that kind of luxury) are in a class by themselves when it comes to getting a room with a view on the Maltese Islands. But even driving around the island is a treat, with towns and villages still well separated from each other compared to the main island's overspill.
Life moves at a slower pace
We did say that Gozo is a place where time stands still, and this is so in more ways than one. Local people seem somewhat more laid back, always have time for a friendly chat and entertain pastimes that are considered time-consuming and 'inefficient' by Maltese standards, such as the making of bizzilla or lace. The general atmosphere of Gozo is a relaxed one and it is understandable why Maltese locals escape to it when they want to get away from it all.
There is a strong community feeling
Until recently, if you lived in Gozo, it was considered offensive to the neighbours if you didn't leave your house key in the main door of your house. While that has changed in recent years due to several 'outsiders' settling on the island, a strong community feeling still persists. Locals know all their neighbours by name and will always lend a helping hand when needed. And they tend to gather in the village square on Sunday mornings to catch up with the local gossip. In addition, since there is less to do in Gozo in terms of entertainment, people who live there are content to simply enjoy their friends' company wherever and however it happens, and make sure they make it happen.
The lifestyle is clean
Without the distraction of parties, home-grown social gatherings take their place and social life is naturally on the 'cleaner' side. Classes, workshops and coffee shops constitute the opportunities for people to go out and meet new people. Gozo has also earned a fantastic reputation as a place for all kinds of retreats, from detox to yoga retreats, which is not surprising due to the wonderful properties and beautiful environment they are set in. The place is green, the air is clean, the atmosphere peaceful and the views inspiring - what more could you possibly want?
It feels rural yet remains within easy reach
The mood of Gozo is definitely one of a rural area rather than a big city. No chaos is to be found anywhere on this charming little island. Yet cosmopolitan Malta, with its vibrant nightlife and ample business services, is just a 25-minute ferry ride away. A more regular Gozo ferry service that operates every half hour instead of 45 minutes has also made crossings quicker and easier.
It's just wonderful how the two worlds co-exist side by side across a narrow stretch of water. And I find myself crossing that stretch more and more often these days, so that I still live and work in Malta but play more and more in Gozo. I fall in love with it more and more everytime, and wonder why I don't just live there!