Chemists are found throughout the Islands and
are open during normal shopping hours.
On Sundays, chemists open on a roster from 07.30
until 11.00 in Gozo. One can check local Sunday
newspapers for details of the roster.
Beaches
One of the best-known bays is Marsalforn,
which hums and buzzes until the early hours
of the morning during the hotter months,
but which is left to the seaspray and the
net-mending fishermen in the winter. Traditionally,
this was the summer resort of the middle-classes
from the town of Victoria, which is all of
four kilometres away - a burriage in the
summer heat, before cars came along.
Dwejra, with its curious
rock formations and spilling seas, is also
a magical attraction, with spectacular deep-sea
swimming down a cliff-path, and spell-binding
diving through what is known as the "Blue
Hole" near the Azure Window and the Inland
Sea.
Gozo’s shoreline measures about 43
Km. The main holiday resort area is Marsalforn
followed by Xlendi, on the
west side of the Island. Both areas have
very small beaches, which can get very crowed
in summer. The best beach on Gozo is Ramla
Bay with its wide sweep of reddish sand,
which is on the north side. There are many
fjords like inlets, which offer excellent
swimming points, although no beaches. Some
require a bit of a track to get to but are
worth the effort, notably Mġarr ix-Xini,
San Blas and Dwejra.
Dwejra is also home to Fungus
Rock, a solitary outcrop standing
in the sea many metres from the shore.
It is known, in the local tongue, as Il-Ġebla
Tal-General "The General's Rock", in memory
of the Italian officer who, several hundred
years ago, fell to his death while supervising
quarrying activites in the area. The rock
was heavily guarded by the Knights of St.
John, who set great store by a special
plant that grew there, and which was believed
to have medicinal properties. This was
picked by slaves and brought to land using
a primitive system of baskets and pulleys,
it was then crushed and mixed with soup
or wine, to be given to those suffering
from intestinal disorders. Anyone found
raiding the rock for the spiny, orange-red
planet was sentenced to death, or a fate
worse than that: a lifetime of rowing service
on the cruel galleys. The plant, Cynomorium
Coccineum, was so precious that it was
presented to visiting dignitaries in the
customary exchange of gifts.
The following is a list of all the beaches
and other bathing and diving spots beginning
from ir-Ramla l-Ħamra proceeding clockwise
around the island.
Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra (easily
accessible by car through Nadur or Xagħra)
is the largest, the best and still the most
unspoilt haven of the island of Gozo. The
whole beach is a spread of red sand. The
sea is shallow and perfect for children,
except on windy days. On the right seaward,
a path leads up to Taht l-Irdum where the
water is deeper.
Apart from being a beautiful beach, Ramla
l-Ħamra is also a historic site. The
Romans built a villa richly decorated with
marble and stucco. So sophisticated was this
building that it boasted its own hot baths
supplied with water from a nearby spring,
channelled to the villa. These Roman ruins
now lie re-buried beneath the red sand.
The Knights of St. John fortified Ramla
l-Ħamra against enemy intrusion.
They constructed Vendome battery, which
today is inconspicuous and in 1715, even
went so far as to construct a submerged
wall to deter marauding pirates from landing
on the beach. High up on the cliff facing
the sea, the Knights dug a fougasse, a
hole into which explosive material was
pressed and fired at the invaders.
Today Ramla l-Ħamra displays
nothing of these disturbances. In the summer
months it is popular with swimmers, sunworshipers
and idlers sitting around tables beneath
sun umbrellas at a kiosk, sipping cool drinks
and nibbling snacks. During winter months
Ramla l-Ħamra affords pleasant, peaceful
walks.
A statue dedicated to Our Lady of Hope,
stands vigil in the middle of the beach.
San Blas (reached through
Triq San Blas, Nadur) is a delightful little
secluded beach of red sand. The path to the
sea is rather steep but the sandy beach is
of exceptional charm and worthy of a visit.
This quaint idyllic beach is never crowded.
Daħħlet Qorrot (accessible
by car though the road is steep, through
Nadur) The beach is tiny but one can swim
off the rocks on both sides in crystal clear
water. Fishermen use this tranquil bay as
a base, and colourful boats dance silently
on the waters during the summer months.
Ħondoq ir-Rummien (easily
accessible by car through Qala) is a small
sandy beach with crystalline water and there
is ample space for sunbathing. Snacks are
available from a gabbana (kiosk). This beach
is also a good diving site, especially for
beginners and night dives. Ħondoq ir-Rummien
is very popular with locals and can be crowded
during weekends. It is a favoured spot for
summer evening barbecues.
Ix-Xatt l-Aħmar (on
the Mġarr-Rabat road, to the left just
after reaching Għajnsielem) is another
secluded bay with ample space for diving.
The wreck of the "Xlendi", a ferry boat that
until recently plied between Gozo and Malta.
lies in the depths of this location, thus
enhancing the attractions of this excellent
dive-site. Swimming is possible off white
rocks, but ladders make getting in and out
of the water easy. From this spot lovely
views of the west coast of Malta can be seen.
Mġarr ix-Xini (easily
accessible by car either through Sannat or
Xewkija) is a fjord-looking cleft with sheer
cliffs rising from pebbly beach and intriguing
caves. This secluded spot is ideal for swimming
and another quaint and attractive dive-site
especially for night diving. This peaceful
bay is never crowded.
Xlendi (easily reached
by car either through Fontana or from Munxar)
is together with ir-Ramla l-Ħamra and
Marsalforn, one of the three major beach
resorts of Gozo. It is possible to swim in
a small sandy beach or paddle and snorkel
off the rocks surrounding this beach. One
can also swim off the rocks beneath the watch
tower that stands guard at the mouth of Xlendi
bay. The reef and rock formations under the
sea make Xlendi an excellend dive site also
for beginners. Xlendi is a fishing village
and a small menqa (small harbour) gives shelter
to a number of boats in both summer and winter.
A statue of St. Andrew patron saint of fishermen
watches over the activites of locals and
holiday makers as they walk along the promenade
and sit at the bars and restaurants on the
seafront and in the tiny streets off the
seafront.
Id-Dwejra (easily accessible
by car through San Lawrenz) is partly enclosed
by the Ħagret il-General. The water
here is very deep and the occasional swell
may be dangerous. It is however ahaven for
the strong swimmer. It is also possible to
swim at the Inland Sea, where the sea has
cut into the cliffs to form a shallow, sheltered
salta water pool with pebbly crystal clear
water. Boat trips from the little jetty take
the visitor out to the open sea through a
natural tunnel in the cliffs. Once through
the tunnel the cliffs rise majestically out
of the water and the boatmen wander slowly
around a number of caves which dot the coast.
The various dramatic rock formations, coves
and drop-offs have earned Dwejra the reputation
of being among the best dive sites in the
Mediterranean and undoubtedly the best the
Maltese Isalnds offer. The variety of fish
found in these waters is also a major attraction.
Snacks and refreshments are available from
gabbani (kiosks).
Wied il-Għasri (reached
through Għasri and Marsalforn) is a
fjord-looking tiny beach wedged between high
cliffs and can be reached ideally by boat.
The fantastic cove and airlock are the main
attractions at this dive site.
Ix-Xwejni and il-Qbajjar (easily
reached through Marsalforn or Żebbug)
are two shallow beaches with pebbly corners
and rocky stretches very close to each other
and are ideal for swimming. They are popular
dive sites, especially for beginners. A couple
of bars and restaurants line th sea front.
Marsalforn (easily reached
through Rabat, Xagħra or Żebbug)
is the most popular summer resort of the
island. Here there is a good choice of diving
spots off the rocks and on a pebbly beach.
Just behind the menqa (harbour), one finds
the deep clear waters of Għar Qawqla
where swimming off the rocks is a delight
Marsalforn offers the widest variety of bars
and restaurants, most of them al fresco.
Għajn Barrani (reached
through Marsalforn and Xagħra) is not
easily accessible and some scrambling over
rocks is necessary to reach this tiny, quiet
and secluded sandy beach.
Comino (reached by frequent
boat trips from various points in Gozo) has
three secluded beach havens with clear turquoise
blue water. Santa Marija Bay, San Niklaw
Bay and Bejn il-Kmiemen (between Comino and
the islet of Cominotto) also known as the
Blue Lagoon. The beauty and attraction of
Comino islet as a swimming paradise is matched
by its underwater caves and reefs which attract
experienced divers. Food and refreshments
are available from the two hotels on the
island.
