The Citadel on Gozo and the hill known as IL-Harrax

A trip to Malta is not complete unless you take the short ferry ride over to the island of Gozo.
Just a twenty minute journey, Gozo accommodates more than her fair share of heritage sights and plenty of places of interest. Here you can visit what is believed to be the oldest free-standing stone buildings in the world, pre-dating the great Pyramids of Egypt and Britain's Stonehenge by around a thousand years.

Or you may want to stop off at the Azure Window, a natural arch where the sea, wind and high waves have formed a hole, giving the impression of a window. Aptly named the Azure Window due to the deep dark blue sea which runs through and around the arch. The rocks in the surrounding area are encrusted with fossilised crustaceans indicating that most of the island was once masked by water.

My favourite place on the island of Gozo is what is known as the Citadel. This town/castle was first thought to have been fortified during the Bronze Age at approximately 1500BC. Based in the hub of Victoria (also known as Rabat), the Citadel has seen all of the action and has been the centre of activity since Neolithic times. It was later developed by the Phoenicians, who continued to create this intricate Acropolis up and too Roman times. Through the ages the Citadel saw further development, from the domination of the Aragonese right up to the re-construction by the knights of St John which occurred between 1599 and 1603. The knights continued their fortifications by building vast defensive stone walls in order to protect the villagers from foraging Corsairs, which were attempting to take slaves.

Today much of the Citadel is under restoration and a lot of imagination is needed when visualising it at the height of medieval activity. But aside from the history that this awe inspiring place holds, it is yet again another location of beautiful panorama.

At each level the views become more and more apparent, allowing you to see Gozo in her full glory. But for me the most spectacular view from the Citadel is the hill known as iL-Harrax. Allegedly named after a bandit which terrorised local villagers who then subsequently joined together, trapped him on this hill, and set him on fire leaving him to burn for all of his torment.

Malta is an extremely wonderful place to visit and her sister island has just as much to offer, so again if you get the chance, plan Gozo into your sightseeing agenda.