Historical sightseeing
Rotunda of Xewkija
The Church of St. John the Baptist, more commonly known as the Rotunda of Xewkija, is the largest church on the island of Gozo and one of the largest in all of Malta. It is located in the small town of Xewkija with low houses, which makes its size even more outstanding. The rotunda dates from the 2nd century and was completed in 1978 on the site of the original church from the 17th century, the remains of which are preserved in a small museum, which is adjacent to the rotunda.
The bell tower offers panoramic views of the entire island of Gozo, and you can take the lift up.
Admission to the church itself is free, admission to the 75-meter-high dome costs EUR 3.
Bazilika Ta`Pinu
Ta ‘Pinu Basilica is located northeast of Victoria, less than 20 minutes by bus line 308 (route and timetable) from Central Station. The basilica, which is a very important place of pilgrimage today, was built in the 1930s, on the site of a smaller chapel. It is here that the inhabitants of the nearby village of Għarb, Karmni Grima, spoke to the Virgin Mary, to whom this magnificent building is dedicated, at the end of the 19th century.
Although the basilica itself may not be one of the largest tabernacles in Europe, it stands out very significantly in the open undeveloped landscape of the hilly center of the island.
Admission to the basilica is free, don’t forget to wear suitable clothes. If you are not in a hurry, take a tour of the basilica on the Stations of the Cross, which begins directly opposite the basilica. In a quarter of an hour you will find yourself on a hill, from where you will have a beautiful view of this monumental basilica in the Romanesque style surrounded by nature.
Citadella
Victoria is dominated by the hilltop Cittadella, which is the biggest tourist attraction of this historic city. It is from the walls of Citadel that you will discover a unique view of literally the whole of Gozo, the interesting thing is that from here you can see the sea in all directions. With good visibility, you can see all of neighboring Sicily. The history of Cittadella dates back to the 9th century, when the Arabs took part in its construction. In the 16th century, it was severely damaged during the Turkish invasion. The medieval Cittadella will delight you with its well-preserved fortifications and charming narrow cobbled streets. At the entrance to the complex you will not miss the small square with the cathedral, which acquired its Baroque appearance at the beginning of the 18th century.
Ggantija
Ġgantija or also “Tower of the Giants” is an important prehistoric temple, which is one of the oldest buildings in the world. It is located near the center of Xaghra, a short drive from Victoria. The construction of the temple dates back to about 3,500 BC. The sanctuary is made up of huge, unmissable boulders, but it was still discovered relatively recently – it was encountered 200 years ago by a farmer who cultivated fields in the area. Historical objects were also found in the church, which you can see at the Archaeological Museum in Victoria. Archaeologists still have no idea why the temple was built and its significance. However, there are rumors of a female giant Sunsun, who brought here huge boulders of the Ta´ Cenc break on the south coast of the island.