Victoria – Gozo’s Capital City

When planning a trip to Malta, there is so much choice for places to visit, sights to see and things to do. Some visitors will come for the beaches, some for the military history, some for the nightlife, some for the architecture, and some for the boat trips and diving.

A trip to Malta’s capital Valletta is usually high on the list, as is a trip to Gozo on the boat. But did you know, Gozo has a capital city too? Victoria is well worth a visit if you’re coming all the way to Malta and have Gozo in your plans. So, what is there do to in Victoria, Gozo?

Pretty Piazzas

Gozo has 3 main piazzas; San Gorg, San Frangisk, and Pjazza Savina. San Gorg is the most pretty and vibrant of the 3, with so many restaurants and coffee shops to choose from to sit at and watch the world go by.

Opera Houses

Gozo has two opera houses;Aurora & Astra. Both are equally beautiful inside out, and they both host classical European performances, with the peak of the Opera Season in October.

Villa Rundle Garden

The Villa Rundle garden in the centre of Victoria is a bright and fun place to stop a while and reflect, enjoy the weather and spot something interesting and unusual. There are many different varieties of plants and flowers to enjoy, and several sculptures, some changing on a seasonal basis.

Mandragg

Mandragg is Gozo’s old town where you can experience Malta’s famous architecture first-hand. The area is lined with cute cobbled alley ways, narrow streets, and beautiful old houses with ornate balconies.

You can spot religious statues sitting on the corner of some of the streets and admire a variety of interesting doors and windows. It’s the perfect place for indulging in a spot of travel photography.

The Cittadella

The Citadella is a beautiful example of Malta’s colourful military history. It’s a fortified area that’s home to a collection of interesting buildings, each telling a tale of how Gozo and its citizens defended themselves and brought order to the islands, with examples from the Bronze Age, through Medieval times and to the 19^th Century. The area was restored between 2008 and 2015 and has a fun interactive visitor centre. Other exciting exhibits include the Old Prison the Nature Museum, Museum of Archaeology and the exquisite Cathedral of Assumption. A must see for any history buffs!

Shopping

Gozo is great for some retail therapy and gift buying as well. Republic street, Arkadia Commercial Centre, and The DukePlaza are the main shopping areas. In Arkadia, you can find well-known fashion brands so leave plenty of time for browsing and trying things on – although it’s open 7 days a week until 8pm meaning there’s no need to rush. There are several food outlets too, so you could stay from breakfast until dinner!

However long you spend in Gozo during your trip to Malta, we’re sure you’ll have a great time exploring. Consider staying in Valletta as your starting point, as it’s so easy to travel from wherever you want to get to in Malta. Look for a boutique hotel with some authentic Maltese baroque features, like the stunning old family home Casa Ellul.