Discover what makes our beautiful sister isle so wonderfully unique.
Gozo is often described as Malta’s sister island and, like all sisters, they each have their own unique personality. Gozo is far from a smaller version of Malta. Discover what makes Gozo wonderfully unique and absolutely worth a visit.
1. She moves at a different pace
This is an island where time has a different significance and GMT has taken up a whole new meaning as ‘Gozo Maybe Time.’ Here, time moves at a different pace. There’s no rush; there’s always time to take it easy, knowing that eventually you’ll get there and those things will get done. If you’re waiting for someone, just relax, have a coffee and enjoy the view.
2. She’s relaxed and quiet
It comes as no surprise then, that those who live on Gozo, including Maltese expats, consider Malta ‘too much stress.’ This may be laughable to those arriving to Malta from bigger cities, but to the Gozitans, it is a serious matter. The traffic and pedestrians and the noise they bring, so common on the streets of Malta, are not so in Gozo. Most Gozitan villages are like ghost towns on a hot afternoon, except for the odd hen crossing the road. Sounds mad, but it’s true.
3. She’s natural and raw
The island of the three hills is far less developed and the population less dense compared to Malta. The towns and villages still stand apart when in Malta, many sprawl into each other. This means there is far more countryside to enjoy when moving around the island, and each town and village scattered amid the beautiful, green rolling hills has its own very distinct features, including its very own Gozitan dialect.
4. She’s traditional
We’re not referring to the village festa that’s a nationwide passion. We're referring to the little old ladies that sit in their front garden working lace - using a series of pins and wooden sticks known as combini to weave knots into intricate patterns - as a way to pass the time. This day-to-day pastime is far from a dying traditional handicraft to them.
5. She has her own food speciality
The ftira in Malta refers to a certain type of bread that is lovingly prepared with fresh tomatoes, tuna, olives, capers, onions and such - the famous Maltese tuna roll you can buy anywhere. In Gozo, however, the ftira is a pizza made with a bread base and a topping of potatoes, onions, tuna, capers, olives and fresh tomatoes, as well as several other variations - an absolute must-eat. Most restaurants will serve it, but it is best purchased from the bakeries in the village of Nadur.
6. She loves to dress up
Speaking of Nadur, that’s also where Gozo’s very unique carnival takes place in February. The popular, unofficial carnival takes to the streets in an extraordinary way. It draws crowds of locals, expats and tourists from the island of Malta and occasionally gets a mention in the top carnivals of the world lists. Why? The sheer madness that is exposed when people’s creativity is left to run completely wild.
7. She’s just beautiful
Something about the way she looks and her demeanour make it hard for anyone not to fall in love with Gozo. Her curves, her quirkiness and her calm are hard to resist. She’s stunning yet humble; charmingly traditional yet creatively innovative; she’s quiet and she’s wild; she takes her time and enjoys all good things. There’s only one way to truly understand beautiful Gozo… by getting to know her.