Born in Italy, lived in England and Germany and now fascinated by Gozo. Local resident Adele explains why below...
Adele, please tell us a little about yourself, where you come from, what you have done in your life and why you have been living in Gozo for a few years now?
Adele: With pleasure. I was born in Italy. I lived there until I was 23 years old. In my home country I graduated as an interpreter for English and German. After that, my job took me to England for a while, then back to Italy and finally to Germany for a few years. From there I came to Gozo with my German husband in 2017 – a spontaneous decision after a holiday in Gozo that we both loved.
So, you live in Gozo now, what exactly do you like about it?
Adele: It’s easy to explain. Gozo is a beautiful island and offers everything you need to live. To be precise, the Mediterranean Sea with its many small bays and our big red sandy beach, Ramla Bay, is always very close. We enjoy a good 300 days of sunshine a year. The summers are long and even in winter the temperatures are usually pleasant. Life is not hectic but relaxed. There are great walking trails all over the island and more and more people are taking advantage of the beautiful scenery and riding trekking bikes.
The restaurants, whether by the sea or in the interior of the island, have freshly caught seafood on the menu, which I personally like very much. When you get up in the morning, the sun is shining and the sky is almost always bright and my favourite colour, blue.
What is also nice and important is that when my job requires me to go on an international interpreting assignment, I can take one of the regular ferries from Gozo to Malta with very little travelling time. There is an airport in Luqa from where you can fly to almost any part of the world. Basically, Gozo is a place I can recommend for a good life as well as a relaxing and varied holiday.
What else do you like about living in Gozo?
Adele: The amazing diversity that is concentrated on this island of only 67 square kilometres. As well as our Gozitan and Maltese friends, people from England, Holland, Germany and Denmark live in my neighbourhood. Most of them live and work here permanently. Some of them are so-called digital nomads, meaning that they work on a laptop and use the good and fast internet in Gozo for their work. The special thing about it is that when you feel like taking a break, after work or just in between, you have our great weather at your disposal – including the gentle Mediterranean landscape and the deep blue sea. Others I know who have moved here from other countries are retiring to the island after a working life.
Either way, the benefits of Gozo are the same for everyone: whether “just” for a special holiday or for people like me who have come from abroad to live on Gozo. Here you can enjoy the typical Mediterranean way of life, in a peaceful atmosphere and close to nature. For example, much of the fresh produce you buy in the local supermarkets comes straight from the fields not far away: tomatoes, olives, potatoes, artichokes, figs, oranges and, for those who like it, meat too – grown by the farmers of Gozo for the people of Gozo. I think it’s wonderful.
What type of accommodation would you recommend to anyone interested in a holiday in Gozo?
Adele: For a holiday in Gozo there is not only a huge choice of Airbnb apartments of all sizes. There are also many farmhouses and villas, chic boutique hotels and of course the classic hotels such as the Grand Hotel Gozo in Mġarr, which has fantastic views across the harbour to the sister island of Comino and the main island of Malta. In other words: Those who come here on holiday will find exactly what they are looking for.
This is also true if the accommodation, like Villa Marni in Xlendi, has a pool. With a choice like this, you can enjoy both: Before breakfast, for example, you can take a dip in the pool, and afterwards you can walk, hire a car or take one of Gozo’s cheap bus services to explore the nearby or more distant coves…
And as already mentioned: Once you arrive at Luqa Airport in Malta, you can take a bus, taxi or hire a car to Ċirkewwa harbour, from where the various ferries to Gozo depart practically round the clock for the port of Mġarr. From Mġarr it is only a short walk to the accommodation you have booked. The same applies to the other ferry connection from Valletta in Malta to Mġarr in Gozo, although this ferry runs less frequently in winter and spring.
What else appeals to you about Gozo?
Adele: Definitely the wide range of cultural activities. Not only the Ċittadella in the capital Victoria is definitely worth a visit. There you can learn a lot about the exciting history of the island, which was settled long before the birth of Christ. An impressive testimony to this early period awaits you in the village of Xagħra, where you can marvel at the world-famous temple complex of Ġgantija (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
In summer and winter, and especially during the Christmas season, there are many exhibitions, concerts and readings. It is easy to find out what is going on at any time of the year at www.visitgozo.com. What few people know is that Gozo has the highest density of opera houses in the world. On our little island we have the Aurora (with 1,500 seats) and the Astra (with 1,200 seats). Two classic, beautiful opera houses, both in terms of architecture and interior design. Every autumn they both offer a programme that is absolutely worth seeing, even on an international scale.
Copyright: Elise Bakketun Photography
My husband and I just saw George Bizet’s opera Carmen at the Astra last autumn – it was magnificent, from the set to the singers, really strong.
But if you prefer a different kind of music, you can of course go to the concerts of good rock or folk bands, especially on the long summer evenings. If you want to get your bass thumped by hip DJs, head to La Grotta discotheque near Xlendi or the various clubs in Mġarr along the harbour promenade.
What is happening on Gozo at the moment, what is life like in the first few months of the year?
Adele: Not only in summer, autumn and spring but also in winter there are many tourists from all over Europe and overseas on the island. Like us, they come to enjoy the sun, the sea, the Mediterranean landscape and the spectacular view from the Sanap cliffs, which are up to 130 metres high. If you have ever seen a sunset from these cliffs, you will never forget it.
I could go on and on about Gozo. But there is not enough time today. But perhaps one more for today, because it fits perfectly with the island, its people and its many new and returning holidaymakers: Gozo’s bid to become one of Europe’s Regions of Gastronomy. This coveted title is awarded by the Barcelona-based IGCAT (International Institute Of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts And Tourism) for outstanding and unique gastronomic offerings and products.
If you ask me, the chances of bringing this award to Gozo are not bad at all…