Weddings in the Island of Gozo

If you choose the island of Gozo for your wedding-a short ferry ride from the island of Malta-you will experience a more pristine and rustic setting. Gozo is unique; quieter than its sister island of Malta and yet full of history. There are 13 villages which exist here. A sense of serenity abounds among them without the presence of industry. Its capital, Victoria, is the setting of a cathedral and citadel that hearkens to an earlier time in its history, the 16th century. The town was named for Queen Victoria of England during imperial rule. Its original name is Rabat, which means “town.”

Gozo is situated northwest of Malta. Because of its clay-like soil, its landscape is more fertile than that of Malta Island. The farms support a wonderful variety of vegetables grown throughout the year. In fact, 60 % of the agricultural products of Malta are produced here. The warm climate supports crops of eggplant, pumpkins, oranges, figs, and onions, to name a few. Some of the farmhouses you see might be 100 years old.

A honeymoon can be perfect here if you enjoy a Mediterranean scenic landscape and idyllic countryside. It has a myriad of harbors, as well as bays, coves, and creeks. A remarkable rock formation called the “Azure Window” exists on the western coast. It’s an archway of rock that forms a kind of window open to the ocean waves. On another excursion, you can view the two Ggantija temples which predate even the pyramids of ancient Egypt. Some believe that these ruins, built circa 3500 BC, are the oldest monuments in the world that are free-standing. They were built to honor a fertility goddess, and may have been the site of an ancient oracle.

The people here consider themselves “Gozitans” and are more rural than their Maltese neighbors. A strong sense of the extended family exists and life is slower here. Their summer festivals are similar to those of the other islands, yet perhaps they feel the religious basis of them more. There are more than 50 churches on this one tiny island.

Here, as in Malta, there is a community of artists made up of sculptors, painters, writers, and craftspeople. If you choose to wed in Gozo, you will find the people as colorful as their small fishing boats painted in bright shades or the beautiful sea and sky which surround them.