Silent echoes from Gozo's past

Abstract

Gozo, separated from Malta by a five-mile channel but differing from it in many respects as chalk from cheese, holds in reserve for the observant eye a treasure of quiet impressions. While exploring the anatomy of its countryside, the curious traveler will not fail to appreciate the quaint beauty of its terraced fields, of its little dry valleys and of the characteristic contour of its isolated hills. He will glean both knowledge and pleasure while touring this tiny island of rustic tranquility. Worthy of special mention among its places of interest are the twin Stone-Age temples of Ggantija, the most imposing of the world's Neolithic structures; the Gran Castello where the spirit of history seems to seep through its time-mellowed stones; the stately Sanctuary of Ta' Pinu whose interior glows with the beauty of the soft, creamy local stone; the land-locked bay at Qawra, slumbering for ever in solitude; Xlendi beach where the sea whispers between protecting rocks; and many wonderful nooks and crannies which can be discovered with very little trouble. This gem of a little island has indeed many views with which the sightseer may beguile the idle moments. Coupled with scenic beauty, opportunities abound for feeling the pulsating life of this island, enwrapped in a long and honorable past. The echoes of time past may at times be dim and hard to catch, but if one penetrates below the surface veneer to look closer for the unfamiliar and the almost forgotten, a host of memories soon comes to light.