Victoria, Malta Attractions
The chief place on Gozo is Victoria (pop 6,800), which has a handsome cathedral (1697) built by Lorenzo Gafà. St George's Church has a number of pictures by Mattia Preti (1613-99).
The Gozo Museum contains an interesting collection of antiquities found on the island.
To celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee of 1897 the capital of Gozo, Rabat, changed its name in her honor, although the locals still refer to the town as Rabat.
The old quarter here began to take shape more than 350 years ago and is made up of narrow alleys that mould themselves into a cohesive little maze of dark angular shadows and bright sunlight, distorting the delightful local balconies out of proportion.
The Gozo Museum contains an interesting collection of antiquities found on the island.
To celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee of 1897 the capital of Gozo, Rabat, changed its name in her honor, although the locals still refer to the town as Rabat.
The old quarter here began to take shape more than 350 years ago and is made up of narrow alleys that mould themselves into a cohesive little maze of dark angular shadows and bright sunlight, distorting the delightful local balconies out of proportion.
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Banca Guiratale
The 1733 Banca Giuratale is a pretty bow-fronted baroque building in It-Tokk. It was Grand Master de Vilhena's present to the people of Gozo after his visit in 1723. The civil building became the seat of the Universita, the almost powerless local governing body. It is still a government building, and houses the occasional local art exhibition.
Cathedral Square
The irregular square, guarded by two toy-sized 17th C. cannons, once housed dwellings on the now vacant south and west walls. The two remaining buildings on the north side house the Law Courts. The building on the right was the Governor's Palace, built by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt in the early 17th C. with the hallmark "fat" Melitan windows; that on the left was the old Public Registry from where decrees were read out.
Rundle Gardens
These gardens were planted in the early 1900s, and have remained Gozo's main public gardens. Formally laid out, they have, apart from the indigenous ficus nitida tree, an avenue of olives, tall Canary palms, and an aviary of noisy chirping birds. The annual agricultural fair is held here on August 14-15, the feast day of Santa Marija or the Assumption.
Attractions in Other Popular Destinations
