Gozo is the smallest island of the Malta archipelago. Gozo is best known as the green sister of Malta and, just like Malta, it also has a lot of culture and history. For example, Gozo is applying as European Capital of Culture for the year 2031. In addition, Gozo tries to preserve and cherish old buildings and monuments, as they do for example for the windmill of Xewkija and the Ggjantjia Temples. Gozo also wants to focus on the environment. That is why they have now also purchased service stations for borrowing bicycles, just like Valletta, the capital of Malta.
Gozo nominates European Capital of Culture for the year 2031
The minister of the island of Gozo, Clin Camilleri, has announced in parliament that Gozo has run for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2031. Malta's capital, Valletta, was awarded this title in 2018. During this year, Valletta has put itself on the map as a special and diverse city break destination. It is therefore expected that with the title of European Capital of Culture, Gozo can also put itself on the map for international visitors.
18th century windmill of Xewkija reconstructed
In the village of Xewkija located on the island of Gozo, the 18th century windmill has been reconstructed. The windmill is special because it is the only windmill in Malta built on an octagonal base. The renovation cost €500,000, much of which was financed by European Funds. Work has been done on both the inside and the outside of the mill. For example, the concrete roof has been replaced with traditional stone slabs and the stone has been cleaned. Subsequently, several parts were replaced. The windmill is equipped with new facilities, such as electricity and water.
40th anniversary Ggantjia Tempels
Forty years ago, UNESCO declared the Ggantjia Temples a World Heritage Site. This recognition is important, among other things, because the UNESCO World Heritage offers a great deal of protection. For example, funds are available for maintenance and repair.
The Ggantjia Temples are the oldest temples in Malta and Gozo. The temples were built around the year 3600 – 2500 BC. During the excavation of the temples in the year 1827, several statues of Venus were found. People probably used these figurines for certain fertility rituals.
Increasing the number of bicycle rental service stations in Malta and Gozo
In 2018, Malta's largest transport company, Malta Public Transport, introduced a service for the provision of rental bicycles. The main purpose of the service is to avoid traffic congestion. In addition, Malta Public Transport was looking for new eco-sustainable solutions.
At the end of 2020, the Malta Public Transport expanded the service with the addition of stations on Gozo. In the towns of Mgarr and Victoria on the island of Gozo, the new service stations have been installed by Malta Public Transport for bike sharing. Other previously opened stations are located in strategic locations around Valletta, such as the University and the Valletta bus station. This initiative can lead to cleaner air with fewer emissions and travelers can explore the island in a sustainable way. The service is slowly growing in popularity; in 2019, an average of 25 trips per day took place.
For more information, visit the Malta website:www.visitmalta.com/nl
