he Maltese archipelago lies at the centre of the Mediterranean. The archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo & Comino with a total population of 400,000 inhabitants.

ozo (Maltese: Għawdex) is an island of the Maltese archipelago. Gozo is more rural and known for its scenic hills. Gozo is known to provide a tranquil haven for a tempo and scene change. The tranquility of Malta's sister Island is immediately apparent where one will certainly notice it is greener, more rural and smaller, a much more quite.

popular nickname of Gozo is the Isle of Calypso, derived from the location of Ogygia in Greek mythological poem Homer's Odyssey. In the myth, the island was controlled by nymph Calypso who detained the hero of the story Odysseus there as prisoner of love for seven years; Gozo is thought to be modern day Ogygia.

rom the natural sights and caves to the oldest temples in the world, Gozo has a long history to offer. As a deeply religious population, churches and other religious attractions are also abundant on the island. The Island also comes complete with historical sites, forts and amazing panoramas, as well as one of the archipelago's best-preserved prehistoric temples, Ggantija.

he Island of Gozo may be small but there is a lot to see and do. The charm of the island makes itself apparent as soon as you arrive. The island also possesses a nightlife and cultural calendar all of its own, with some great dining out.

ozo has several very nice beaches that are useful for recreation and they are all remarkably unique. Besides the physical differences in the beaches themselves, accessibility and services are also factors.

The Village of Nadur, Gozo

adur, Gozo’s most populated village, is spread over the top of a plateau. It has a appropriate name considering that ‘Nadur’ is derived from the Maltese ‘nadar’, which means to observe at length and so to keep guard. Most of the island of Gozo and beyond can be observed from the village. Nadur lies upon the easternmost hill of Gozo and could be reached either from Victoria or directly from Mgarr Harbour.

n order to travel to the village by bus, one should take the number 25 bus from Mgarr Harbour to Victoria, the capital city of the island – a bus is scheduled to depart upon the arrival of every ferry from 05:30 to 19:30. Then from Victoria Bus Station (from where all buses to localities in Gozo depart), take either the number 42 or the number 43 bus to Nadur Square. From Monday to Sunday, a bus to Nadur departs every hour from 7:30 to 10:30, with the last morning bus departing at 11:45. The afternoon buses are at 17:00, 18:00, and 19:00.

Nadur Parish Church

ork on this church, dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, began on 17th December 1760. The facade and aisles were built at the beginning of the twentieth century on a design by the renowned Maltese architect Francesco Saverio Sciortino.

he parish of Nadur was established by Bishop Davide Cocco-Palmeri on 28 April 1688. The church of the Immaculate Conception, Qala, then in the same territory, was the seat of the parish for some years. The present church was consecrated on 12 May 1867. It became Archipresbyteral on 19 December 1893. The third Collegiate of Gozo was established on 19 September 1894. The church was bestowed the title of Basilica on 26 June 1967.

he paintings on the dome and on the ceiling were done by the Maltese artist, Lazzaro Pisani, and depict episodes from the lives of Saints Peter and Paul. The church is covered entirely with marble and has also a pulpit sculpted in marble. The baroque Parish Church dominates Nadur's skyline and is believed to be one of Gozo's best baroque architectural masterpieces. The church is adorned by a sizeable village square with an old stone cross on the other end of the square.

nnually during the nights of 27th, 28th and 29th June, the village celebrates the feast of the village patron saints – otherwise known as ‘L-Imnarja’.  The feast's name seems to suggest that there is a possible connection with the beginning of summer. It is derived from the word luminaria (illumination), and has a deep relation with our traditions and folklore.

The official day of the feast – 29th June – is a national holiday.

The Kelinu Grima Maritime Museum

his museum encompasses the maritime collection of one person, Kelinu Grima, an ex-primary school teacher, who spent some 65 years collecting maritime memorabilia. This museum takes its visitors through the history of three centuries of seafaring, from the elegant sailing ships of the past to the modern passenger liners, from the renowned warships of the US navy to the latter-day battleships of legendary fame. Amongst the exhibits are rare and priceless articles such as authenticated pieces of timber from Lord Nelson's ship "HMS Victory", the "Constitution", which was the first US warship, as well as one of Lord Mountbatten's gold epaulettes which he wore during the period of duty in the Mediterranean.

Contact details:
Maritime Museum
Parish Priest Street,
Nadur, Gozo,
Tel: (+356) 21565226 / (+356) 21551649
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9.00am- 4.45pm
* Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time

Ramla Bay

amla Bay, located at the bottom of a rich and fertile valley, is on the northern side of the island of Gozo. Probably the most popular bay in Gozo, it is visited by a large number of people, especially in the summer.

ven though technically the bay is part of the village of Xaghra, it is easily accessible from the village of Nadur. The valley is given the appearance of a quilt when viewed from the high ridges surrendering this valley – this is due to the terraced walls enclosed by rubble walls built by the farmers and typical of the Maltese and Gozitan countryside. These rubble walls are mainly used to prevent soil erosion as a result of wind and rain. In recent years, these walls have been recognized as mini-ecosystems that have become a natural habitat to many species, including the lizard.

n arriving at Ramla Bay, apart from the beach one will also notice a small slope located along the side of the parking area that contains the heavily eroded remains of an old building. These are the remains of the ‘Ramla Left Balincourt Battery’. This and another two batteries were built around Gozo between 1715 and 1716 and were protected by an entrenchment wall, which was set up in the sea.

he beach is one of the widest and most sandy in the Maltese Islands. A characteristic which makes the beach different from all other beaches in Malta and Gozo is the golden-reddish colour of the sand. In fact, the locals often refer to this beach as the "Ramla il-Hamra" - the Red Sandy Beach. The golden-reddish colour of the sand is the result of the natural erosion of the green sand rock – a thin layer of soft rock found on both sides of the bay. Once the sand is formed, waves and currents help to keep the sand ashore.

number of very rich historical treasures surround the beach with the famous Calypso Cave overlooking the western side of the beach. In 1910 it was proved that the remains of a Roman villa complete with baths and a draining and heating system lay beneath the sand. Today, the artifacts that were found can be viewed at the National Museum in Valletta whilst the remains of the villa were once again buried under the sand for their own preservation.

Ta’ Kenuna Tower

a' Kenuna Tower is one of three semaphore towers built by the British in 1848 on the cliffs near Nadur in Gozo, Malta. Sited on a hill 130 meters above sea level, its purpose was to pass on signals to ships and other posts via a telegraphy link between the two main Maltese islands. In 2005, the Nadur Local Council together with the help of the Maltese telecommunications company Maltacom sponsored the restoration works of the tower. A beacon to warn ships that they are nearing land, as well as a number of communication antennas were installed on the roof.

oday, one can ask permission from the tower's watchman to go on top of the covered roof of the tower for a panoramic view of Gozo, Comino and Malta. The gardens around the tower also give the visitor to view Maltese / Gozitan native plants. The panoramic view of all the islands visible from this spot is considered to be amongst the most magnificent on the islands and is considered a must-see for all visitor to Gozo.

Nadur Wine Festival