The Island of Gozo

All roads in Gozo lead to Victoria, or Rabat, as the local people call it. Almost the moment you arrive in Gozo, you see its Citadel rising steeply above the surrounding countryside. The impressive bastions command a superb view of the Island.
For centuries the Citadel served as a sanctuary from attack by Barbary corsairs and Saracens. At several times in Gozo's history, its population was taken into slavery by these raiders. When the threat subsided after the Great Siege, a prosperous town grew up below the Citadel.
Victoria is not just the geographic heart of Gozo, it is also the centre of everyday activity. It manages to combine the bustle of its market and shops with a relaxed and sociable atmosphere. It is a great place to watch the Islanders go about their day, especially when the main market square, It-Tokk, comes to life.
Browse around Victoria's market and narrow winding streets and you'll find everything from delicious fresh produce, cheeses and wines, to antiques, craft goods, fishing nets and knitwear. The town also has a thriving cultural life all its own, with some surprising attractions ranging from opera to horse races in the main street on festa day.
Dwejra Bay is located on the eastern side of the island of Gozo. It can be reached from San Lawrenz. One can also reach the Bay by taking Bus Number 91 to San Lawrenz.
This is the site were the famous Inland Sea is located. This is also the place where one can find the Fungus Rock and the Azure Window, two natural rock formations. The latter was used for one of the scenes in the movie Popeye. The Qawra Tower, built in 1651, is also located in the area.
When you reach the bottom of the road, you come to a few small buildings nestled on the entrance to the inland sea. The buildings are those of local fisherman. A couple of stores selling souvenirs, including the treasured Gozo glass, have been added recently. There is also a place where you can buy cold drinks and light snacks.
If you're lucky, you can sometimes see one of the local women making lace, an old craft that's still widely practiced on the island of Gozo. This is also a popular area with scuba divers. The water here is deep and the rock formations and underwater caves attract scuba divers from all over the world. The local fisherman also take visitors on boat rides of the surrounding area and this is another experience that shouldn't be missed.
The inland sea is unique - a cliff-circled bay into which the sea reaches through a natural tunnel or archway under Dwejra Point. The bay is quite small but it is a sight to behold. There is no sand here, the bottom is mostly pebbles and rocks. But many local people and visitors swim in the protected bay. Young people and kids can often be seen climbing the cliffs and diving into the deep water close to the archway leading to the sea. One can see the sea through the archway from certain points. For a small fee, local fishermen will take visitors through the archway for a tour of the cliffs and other sites. It's quite an experience.
The Azure Window is a natural rock formation. The natural megalithic archway was formed by the waves as the constant pounding wore down the soft limestone. It's name comes from the colour of the sea one observes when looking through the big archway. The more adventurous can climb the rocks and walk on top of the archway. Most people are happy to sit and enjoy the view through the archway. The rock here is quite sharp so good shoes are a must if you want to wonder around to enjoy the magnificent scenery. Close to the Azure Window, there is also a hole that descends to the sea. When the sea is rough, the foamy water sometimes shoot through the funnel shaped hole.
A short walk away one can find the famous Fungus Rock. This circular rock formation is so named as it is the site where a kind of fungus grows. the fungus (cynomorium coccineum) is supposed to have medicinal properties and was held to be effective against dysentery and other diseases. The Arabs called it the "treasure of drugs". During the time of the Knights of Malta, Grand Master Pinto took great pains to protect the Fungus Rock. The rock, rising to a sheer height of 80 meters from the sea, is quite inaccessible, especially since the sea tends to be quite rough around this area. However, the grandmaster posted guards around the area and ordered that the sides of the outcropping were to be rendered smooth to eliminate any footholds. The qualities of the fungus were known throughout Europe and the Knights often sent samples of the fungus to European monarchs as presents.
The rock here, as in most places in Gozo, is encrusted with fossilized crustaceans, evidence that most of the island was once covered by water. Many of the farmers in Gozo unearth fossilized crustaceans when plowing their fields.