Mediterranean paradise island of ancient myths gets top modern green award

Present day visitors get a cornucopia of legendary lotus-eating holiday delights in Top100 sustainable destination

Gozo is a pretty, green Mediterranian holiday island whose history of myth and legend goes back a very long way. It is even reputed to be the ancient paradise island of Ogygia, the home of the nymph Calypso in Homer’s Odyssey.

Certainly the beautiful island has a very long story indeed with 7000 years of history, boasting the oldest free-standing megalithic temples – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Anyone who sets foot here is captured by the natural raw beauty and the authenticity of the island.

The island is also considered one of the top diving destinations in the Mediterranean and a centre for water sports. There are many beaches,that are popular with tourists and locals alike. It is also dotted with lovely natural features all along its coastline.

There are lovely walks to enjoy the tiny island’s beautiful scenery filled with the scents and sights of fragrant wild herbs and flowers and terraces of honey-coloured limestone. Strolls around the island can include a visit to the Azure Window, red-sand Ramla Bay and, of course the nymph Calypso’s cave.

The island is renowned for its all year round cultural calendar put up by the local people through voluntary initiatives – so you’ll find something exciting, natural and authentic happening here pretty much all the time.

Time for food and wine? All you can say is that the harvest of the land and the sea is totally sensational, fresh, seasonal traditional and delicious.

Thanks to a number of local initiatives- here you can enjoy utterly delicious local food at its very best. In Gozo it’s an eclectic mix of cuisines inherited throughout its rich historical past including Phoenician, Roman and Arab visitors and more recently, Italian, French and British colonial rules.

Round mini-cheeses known as -¡bejniet are a local favourite, usually made from unpasteurised sheeps’ milk and served either fresh like a ricotta, marinated and peppered – or traditionally dried outdoors on the flat roofs of Gozitan houses under its 300 days of annual sunshine.

For meal breaks, rather than touristy restaurants visitors can seek out village bars serving Gozitan tapas. Try zalzett (coriander-flavoured sausage) and bigilla (broad bean paste) with crusty Gozitan -§ob-¼ sourdough bread. It’s great to just dip in local organic olive oils famed for light acidity and a hint of saltiness from sea breezes. Time your visit for a village festival (festa) and they’ll also be sweet treats like imqaret (date pastries) to help fuel the fun.

And don’t forget the fabulous breads from the wood-fired ovens of local bakers, the delicious local honeys tasting of the land’s glory, or the superb wines from an area where great wines have been produced for millennia.

Gozo offers a true local natural experience – lovely beaches, exhilarating walks, a great cultural calendar, history to enjoy and superb local foods and wines. It’s no wonder that local people are proud of their home and their hospitality and they take great care to cherish it.

This is a very special island so naturally great efforts are made to keep Gozo’s wonderful visitor experience sustainable economically, culturally, socially and environmentally. Through its ecoGozo initiative the Ministry for Gozo has also focused on the conservation and preservation of its natural environment. 

Gozo’s efforts have been consistently recognised among the international community as it was awarded the Quality Coast Gold Award in 2012 and 2016.  In 2016 Gozo also featured among the Top 100 Global Sustainable Destinations.

Gozo offers visitors a glorious natural experience, and locals a lovely home.

More info: http://greendestinations.info/top100-2016/?dest=gozo

Valere Tjolle