Gozo is the second-largest island of the Maltese archipelago, lying just north-west of Malta. Known for its rural landscapes, dramatic coastline and deep-rooted traditions, Gozo offers one of the longest continuous historical narratives in the Mediterranean.
Geography and identity
Gozo covers approximately 67 square kilometres and is characterised by rolling hills, fertile valleys, and a rugged coastline punctuated by bays and cliffs. Its capital, Victoria (Rabat), dominates the island from the Citadel, a fortified centre that has shaped Gozitan life for centuries.
Locally, the island is known as Għawdex, and its people retain a strong sense of identity distinct from mainland Malta.
Prehistory: the earliest settlers
Gozo is one of the most important prehistoric landscapes in Europe. Human settlement dates back to at least 5000 BC, when Neolithic farmers arrived by sea and established communities across the island.
The most extraordinary legacy of this era is the Ġgantija Temples (c. 3600–3200 BC), among the oldest free-standing stone monuments in the world. These massive megalithic structures attest to a complex society with advanced architectural, religious and organisational skills.
Phoenician, Roman and Byzantine Gozo
By the first millennium BC, Gozo had entered the wider Mediterranean world. Phoenician traders used the island as a maritime outpost, followed by Carthaginian and Roman rule.
Under Rome, Gozo (then part of Gaulos) developed agricultural estates, ports and villas. Archaeological finds indicate continuity of settlement through the late Roman and Byzantine periods, despite political changes.
Medieval Gozo and Arab influence
Arab rule (870–1091) left a profound mark on Gozo, shaping its language, agricultural systems and place-names. Terraced fields, water management and rural settlement patterns still reflect this period.
After Norman conquest, Gozo became part of the Kingdom of Sicily. The medieval Citadel evolved as the island’s main defensive and administrative centre, providing refuge during raids.
The Knights of St John (1530–1798)
The arrival of the Order of St John marked a defining era. Gozo suffered repeated corsair raids, most devastatingly in 1551, when much of the population was enslaved.
In response, the Knights strengthened fortifications, rebuilt churches, and reorganised rural life. Many of Gozo’s parish churches and village cores date from this period or were expanded in the centuries that followed.
French episode and British rule
French occupation in 1798 was brief but turbulent. Gozitans famously declared a short-lived autonomous state before British protection was established.
Under British rule (1800–1964), Gozo remained largely agricultural but saw improvements in administration, education and infrastructure, while preserving a conservative rural character.
Modern Gozo
Today, Gozo forms part of the Republic of Malta but maintains a distinct pace of life. Tourism, heritage conservation, agriculture and small-scale enterprise shape the modern economy.
Religious and cultural traditions remain central, from village feasts to pilgrimage sites such as Ta’ Pinu Basilica.
Why Gozo matters
Gozo’s significance lies not only in its monuments but in its continuity: an island where prehistoric temples, medieval citadels, Baroque churches and modern villages coexist within a living cultural landscape.