Tiny historic paradise island comes alive

photo by Glen Gauci

Locals and visitors enjoy colourful kite festival, yummy honey and bee event and ‘Gozo Alive’ programme of sporting, cultural, artistic and musical activities

Visitors to the tiny Mediterranean island of Gozo can look forward to some fabulous festival all year round – all designed to honour the island’s culinary, cultural and environmental heritage – and its sense of fun!

If you’re looking for a sustainable island with its own local identity, Gozo is a perfect place to visit. The beautiful bays, the green hills and the impressive rock formations give the island a unique beauty, coupled with a lifestyle that is rooted deep in tradition.

The island boasts 7000 years of history, including the oldest free-standing megalithic temples, that are a UNESCO World Heritage site – the Ggantija Temples in Xaghra. Anyone who sets foot here, is captured by the raw beauty and the authenticity that places elsewhere have lost.

One of three inhabited islands that are part of Malta’s island group, Gozo is tiny.  But although the island has a surface of just 67 square kilometers, it is packed full of wonders. Gozo is distinguished from Malta by its green nature and rustic setting. With its unspoilt nature, cultural and historical sites and numerous annual festivals, it is a fabulous twinkling gem of a destination for visitors.

The Kite Festival, scheduled to happen again this autumn, is great fun for young and old. It will include kite building, kite flying sessions plus all the enjoyment that comes with it. The Ministry for Gozo and the local council of Gharb have created this unique event, promising high flying fun for children and adults with free spirits.  HERE

Earlier this year Gozo Alive took place Gozo and delighted visitors and locals alike. Activities were spread over a three-day period and involved close collaboration with a lots of enthusiastic local groups. Activities varied from adventure activities, sports, concerts, exhibitions and artistic shows. Bands, musical  performances,  re-enactments,  fireworks,  art  exhibitions,  dance,  short  film  screening  and  guided  tours  –  a  programme  of  events  that not only entertained but also  presented Gozo in a unique,  exciting way for everyone to enjoy and which also honoured Gozo’s cultural heritage.

Further information HERE

Delicious honey is one of Gozo’s great gifts having been produced here for thousands of years. The Honey & Bee Fest [ https://www.visitgozo.com/events/honey-bee-fest/] showcases the artisan beekeeping activities and its delicious, useful and health-giving produce such as beeswax, Royal Jelly, honey sweets and medicines – and the most delicious honey. The Ministry for Gozo supported the project and the artisans, by organising the activity, providing the required set-up and promoting the event.

All of these events are part of Gozo’s activities to create a sustainable offer for visitors and sustainable living for local communities. It’s no wonder that it’s one of the world’s Top100 Sustainable Destinations.

Gozo has both the beaches with a bathing water qualified "Excellent" and heritage sites, such as the Medieval Citadel or the world’s oldest temples of -gantija recognised by UNESCO. Gozo also promotes eco-education in schools through various programmes.

Through its ecoGozo initiative the Ministry for Gozo has also conducted actions focusing 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 2014, 2016 and 2017 Gozo also featured among the Top 100 Global Sustainable Destinations. Gozo was also awarded ‘The Best of the Mediterranean’ among the Top 100 Sustainable Destination in 2018.

For meal breaks, rather than touristy restaurants why not seek out village bars serving Gozitan tapas. Try zalzett (coriander-flavoured sausage) and bigilla (broad bean paste) with crusty Gozitan hobz 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 talking about drink – Distinctive Gozitan wines and craft beers add local liquid pleasure to your days here. For the most traditional experience, look for bars serving jugs of wine rather than bottles – filled with fruits of a terroir whose strong sun and cooling sea breezes creates round-bodied, fruity wines with good structure. Tal-Massar Winery has popular tours and tastings. Beer lovers, meanwhile, can sup Gozo’s very own artisan brews courtesy of the Lord Chambray microbrewery, opened in Xewkija in 2014 – they have tasting visits too.

So, great food and wine and festivals, superb scenery and great hospitality – why delay a visit to this authentic Mediterranean island paradise?

More information:

https://www.visitgozo.com/

https://www.visitgozo.com/what-to-do-in-gozo/experience/tastes-of-gozo/

http://www.ecogozo.com/