6 Beautiful Towns & Villages To Visit In Gozo

Gozo is the second-largest island that makes up the Maltese archipelago.

The island has been inhabited for thousands of years and it shows evidence of historic immigration by many nations.

Some of them are the Romans, Arabs, Sicilians, and British.

Gozo is a much quieter place to be next to its heavily urbanized sister island Malta. In fact, some people still refer to Gozo as “what Malta used to be“, a small, rural area where time seems to pass slower.

Besides the beautiful beaches and the clear Mediterranean waters, Gozo has an incredible history to tell, having played part in many important historic events.

Moreover, here you will be able to taste some of the best Mediterranean dishes and indulge in sipping delicious Maltese wine the island has to offer.

We created this list of 6 beautiful towns and villages to visit in Gozo so you can experience the traditional culture and the laid back way of life amongst the gems this island has to offer.

1. Ix-Xewkija

Ix-Xewkija is known for the best Gozitan stonemasons and decorators of Maltese stone.

It lies between Mġarr Harbour and the capital of Gozo – ir-Rabat. It is the oldest village on the island and is best known for its gigantic church in the centre of the village Rotunda of St. John the Baptist.

This is the biggest church in Gozo and triumphs the third largest unsupported dome in the world and a distinctive landmark visible from across the island.

The rotunda was built in the twentieth century and as the name suggests was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The monumental church is an enormous circular structure in white Maltese limestone.

The interior is decorated with fine sculptures and modern paintings. The floor and also the main altar is made from polished marble.

The rotunda is considered a superb architectural masterpiece that shows the versatility of local Maltese limestone as well as the incredible skills of local craftsmen.

Ix-Xewkija village has a long and distinguished history. It was the first to gain the official “village status” on the island after becoming the first parish outside the capital ir-Rabat in 1678.

The name comes from Arabic and literally means “an area of the thorny wasteland“, though being one of Gozo’s larger villages today, it bears no resemblance to any such thing.

Besides the rotunda, there is the less known chapel Madonna tal-Ħniena which translates from Maltese to Our Lady of Charity and it overlooks ir-Rabat offering a glorious view over Gozo.

It is said that the sick prayed for mercy at this site during the terrible plague of 1814.

Also worth a look is the oldest (and newly restored) chapel in Gozo, St. Cecilia that lies on the edge of the village and was built in around 1540.

2. il-Fontana

Italian for spring, or locally known as “Triq tal-Ghajn” which translates to the way to the spring, this small village in Gozo took its name from an abundant spring on the mid-way between the capital ir-Rabat and the popular tourist location ix-Xlendi.

The small village attracted people to the area due to the availability and continuous supply of fresh water and in the sixteenth century, they built shelters to live.

These are still standing nearly intact and inside you will find traditional stone water tubs which were used by the locals to do their daily washing.

The earliest settlers of Fontana were mainly farmers, hunters, and fishermen that use the nearby Xlendi Bay to provide food for themselves.

It was the fishermen who set aside profits and build the parish church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the late 19th century.

On the right-hand side of the road to ix-Xlendi, stretching over the lower part of il-Fontana lies the evergreen Lunzjata Valley that keeps local farmers bury all-year-round due to being one of Gozo’s most fertile area.

3. il-Munxar

A ten-minute walk southwest of the capital ir-Rabat takes you to the small Gozitan village of il-Munxar.

Sandwiched between the sloping sides of two valleys, this tiny village offers a view on some of the most mesmerizing landscapes in Gozo.

The name il-Munxar originates from the striking view of cliffs from the Bardan Heights nearby and it translates to “bucksaw” from old Maltese.

Munxar consists of tiny alleyways and although residential, it is a village full of farm life. It is home to a community merely 700 people and many families here have livestock in their old farmhouses.

This is a decent supply of eggs, cheeses, and other fresh products and spotting local shepherds escorting their herd to a nearby green spot is a common sight for visitors.

Munxar is a village packed with tradition and religion, so seeing shrines or statues adorning the facades of homes or street corners believed to be for protection is something you should expect when visiting this part of the island.

It was the last place in Gozo to become parish and as a result, it was considered to be an independent village.

The parish church which is a charming little baroque-style temple is a focal point to the village was built from local Maltese stone between 1914 and 1925 and was dedicated to St. Paul.

4. in-Nadur

In-Nadur is located in the easternmost part of Gozo and it is an interesting traditional village that is built on a hill, offering mesmerizing views over landscapes and the beautiful Mediterranean sea.

It is one of the largest villages in Gozo homing a population of around 4,000 people.

The name Nadur originates from the Arabic word “nadara” which translates to “lookout or observe at length”.

In-Nadur is renowned for the glorious lush green valleys and peaceful bays that surround it. On the nearby coast, you can find the beach of San Blas and its big sister Ramla Bay.

The beaches are distinguished by the burnt orange sand and while Ramla Bay can attract quite a lot of tourists in summer, the road that leads to its little sister San Blas Bay is exceptionally steep.

This naturally discourages many people to approach, making this glorious beach an extremely peaceful place.

Next to the two popular beaches, there’s a delightful small bay called Daħlet Qorrot and it is especially popular with local fishermen and swimmers.

Throughout the years and due to its position, Nadur played a vital part in the coastal defense of the island.

During the time of the Knights, Grandmaster Nicolas Cotoner builds a tower called Ta’Isopu Tower that stands between Daħlet Qorrot and San Blas Bay.

The top of this tower offers the most incredible view of Gozo, Comino, and the Northern part of Malta.

5. L-Għarb

L-Għarb is a small and particularly charming and interesting village in the westernmost part of Gozo. The name itself originates from Arabic and it translates to “west”.

It is one of the oldest villages in Gozo and it has retained its strong roots and characteristics of traditional Gozitan lifestyle.

The village is rich in culture, religion, tradition, and old fashioned simplistic ways of living with strong elements of folklore.

The population of this small traditional village counts about 1,300 people, a total of 400 families.

Its character is distinctly rural and it is populated almost exclusively by people who work in the surrounding fields in one of the most fertile areas on the island.

The locals have retained an old Maltese dialect, with a rich vocabulary of old words and pronunciations that the rest of the population has long since discarded.

L-Għarb is home to blacksmiths, locksmiths, lace makers, carpenters and the people from this village are famous for their craftsmanship skills, especially for the manufacture of the unique l-Għarb blade, which is a traditional sharp knife.

Upon approaching the village you will see the monumental shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu which is Malta’s most important and cherished shrine.

The architectural masterpiece was built between 1920 and 1931 and it is adorned with the superb craftsmanship in Maltese stone.

Għarb’s coastal lookouts played an important role in safeguarding the island of Malta and Gozo throughout history. During the time of a constant threat from the Ottoman Turks, the l-Għarb lookouts were sending smoke signals to Malta as a warning of approaching danger.

The area around Gharb is most pleasant for walking and enjoying the intact countryside.

6. Ir-Rabat (Victoria)

Ir-Rabat is the capital city of the island of Gozo. The name Victoria was given to the town in 1887 in honour of the British Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

All roads in Gozo lead to ir-Rabat and this town embraces the Citadel, which is an ancient fortified city and the most popular tourist attraction.

The square and centre of ir-Rabat is where you can see the Banca Giuratale, the former seat of the government in Gozo and at the present, it serves as the home of the Local Council.

The main street in ir-Rabat is called Republic Street or Triq ir-Repubblika and here you can find all kinds of shops, pharmacies, banks, the Police Headquarters, as well as the opera theatres Astra and Aurora.

In lower Republic Street you can enjoy visiting the Villa Rundle Public Gardens laid out by the British in 1910.

The garden has a variety of both local and imported trees as well as a fountain and here you can enjoy a little bit of peace and quiet from the world.

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Final Thoughts

Unlike Malta which is primarily an urban island, Gozo is rural and traditional with patches of unspoiled countryside.

Hills and valleys surround the small, charming villages, each with a parish church at its centre dominating the attractive squares.

The sun here shines brightly all-year-round, allowing for a number of outdoor activities as well as places where you can just sit down and enjoy life one minute at a time.

In this article, we created a list of 6 best towns and villages to visit in Gozo and allow these charming places to take you back in time through the dynamic history of the island.

Still looking for a hotel in Gozo? See our top picks here!