Gozo – A Jewel in the Mediterranean Sea
Contributed by Kempinski San Lawrenz Resort & Spa.
In the heart of the Mediterranean, ninety kilometres south of the Island of Sicily, lies the magical and beautiful island of Gozo.
Gozo is the second largest island of the Maltese archipelago that consists of three islands known as Gozo, Comino and mainland Malta. Millions of years ago the Maltese islands were the elevated regions on a mass of land extending southwards from nearby Sicily. This continental shelf was submerged when the sea level rose during the inter glacials leaving those land tips exposed in the centre of the Mediterranean sea. Gozo covering an area of 14 km by 7 km is hilly and from the southwest to the north west the coast is entirely surrounded by cliffs.
Though it is third the size of the mainland, it has much lush greenery and fertile land and with its Mediterranean atmosphere, this undiscovered paradise, as Gozo is called by its admirers, fascinates all visitors with its unspoiled nature, wide landscape, secluded bays, terraced hills and narrow valleys.
Gozo is tranquil and treasures its peace. For some, the silence can be overwhelming but not to those for whom it spells a blessed respite from the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Gozo is for those who treasure their peace of body and soul and a slow rhythm of life, although a couple of excellent night sports are a hive of activity among the locals during the Summer months.
Village bars open early in order to cater for the early risers who attend the first mass of the day and close fairly late at night, catering to the socialising needs of locals and visitors alike. These [walk-in halls] with their wooden chairs, marble counters, and large metal trays containing the local delicacy, "pastizzi", are a cultural icon. They have stayed unchanged for decades, the only sign of time passing by being the food and drink displayed for sale on the solid shelves.
Gozo's history goes back to 5000 years BC.The greatest undertaking of the pre-Phoenician Gozitans are undoubtedly Ggantija Temples (3000 BC), situated in one of the villages and documented as the oldest free standing structure in the world. The temples take their name from the Maltese word "Ggant" meaning giant, an appropriate name when one considers the sheer size and height of these megaliths. Other places of interest is the Citadel, which used to be the centre of activity possibly since Neolithic times but it became the focal point of Gozo around 1500 BC, when it was fortified by the Bronze Age people. Further development was done by the Phoenicians. Until the 18th century the tiny population of Gozo used to take shelter within its walls between dusk and dawn and whenever there was notice of a raid by pirates.
The rocky sea bed offers many a hiding place for sea creatures, from the gaping grouper to the creeping octopus. Enormous caverns shelter wondrous forms of life offering divers plentiful sightings of varies types of fish. The absence of traffic, the spread of fields and valleys, and the enchanting country roads that wind their way between village and hamlet, make for walks that lift the spirit and enrich the senses.
© This article was supplied by the Management of Kempinski San Lawrenz Resort & Spa.
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