Subscribe

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Victoria (Rabat)

Victoria, the chief town of Gozo, sits in the centre of the island, 6km from the ferry terminal at Mġarr and 3.5km from the resort town of Marsalforn. It's crowned by the tiny citadel Il-Kastell, which appears to grow out of its rocky outcrop. The small walled city houses numerous interesting museums and, following a careful 2016 restoration, is now one of Malta's essential sights.

Gozo's capital is the island's main hub of shops and services. Named for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, it was originally known as Rabat, and is still called that by many of the islanders (and on several road signs).

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Victoria (Rabat).

  • See

    Il-Kastell

    While the walls surrounding Il-Kastell date from the 15th century, there have been fortifications atop this flat-topped hill since the Bronze Age: it developed under the Phoenicians and later became a Roman town. After terrible raids on Gozo by the Turks, it became customary for all the island's families to stay within Il-Kastell overnight, a practice that lasted into the 17th century. Walk almost all the way around the city walls, for astounding views over Gozo and towards the sea

  • See

    Cathedral of the Assumption

    Built between 1697 and 1711 to replace a church destroyed by a 1693 earthquake (which was in southern Italy but caused damage as far Gozo), the cathedral was designed by Lorenzo Gafa, also responsible for St Paul's Cathedral at Mdina. The elegant facade is adorned with the escutcheons of Grand Master Ramon de Perellos and Bishop Palmieri. Due to a lack of funds the dome was never finished, but a trompe l'œil painting makes it look as if it were.

  • See

    Heart of Gozo

    This innovative small museum was founded by the Fondazzjoni Belt Victoria to exhibit treasures belonging to the Basilica of St George as well as other artefacts, including coins and lamps from the Herod era in Israel and scrap silver amounting to the weight of a shekel. A column runs through all three floors showing the island's history from prehistoric Ġgantija through to British rule. There's an audio room, where you can listen to traditional local music.

  • See

    Archaeology Museum

    Victoria's Archaeology Museum houses some incredible finds. There are some 'fat lady' carvings from Ġgantija Temples and Xagħra, around 3000 to 4000 years old. There are also Roman anchors, a 3rd-to-5th-century skeleton that was found buried in an amphora, Bronze Age jugs dating from 2400 to 1500 BC, and some fascinating Phoenician amulets in the form of the Eye of Osiris – an ancient link to the symbols seen on Maltese fishing boats of today.

  • See

    Ċittadella Visitors' Centre

    Inaugurated in mid-2016 as part of the excellent restoration of Victoria's Il-Kastell, this award-winning visitors' centre includes a poignant and informative audiovisual presentation of the history of the site, and other interactive displays covering the history of Gozo and Malta. The spectacular architectural makeover cunningly makes use of capacious former water reservoirs built by the British in the 1870s.

  • See

    Pjazza Indipendenza

    Victoria's main square hosts a daily market (6.30am to 2pm) and is known throughout the island as It-Tokk (the meeting place). The semicircular baroque building at the western end of the square is the Banca Giuratale, built in 1733 to house the city council. After being restored in 2016, it now hosts occasional art and cultural exhibitions.

  • See

    Cathedral Museum

    This jumble of objects within the Cathedral Museum includes a zucchetto (skull cap) worn by Pope Francis, church gold and silver, some religious art (including a disturbing 19th-century painting depicting the martyrdom of St Agatha) and a 19th-century bishop's carriage.

  • See

    Gozo Nature Museum

    This gracious old building houses a series of low-key exhibits explaining the geology of the island and its water supply. There are some interesting fossils downstairs, including huge megalodon shark teeth. Parts of the building were used as an air-raid shelter during WWII.

  • See

    Basilica of St George

    The well-attended original parish church of Rabat dates from 1678, and the lavish interior contains a fine altarpiece of St George and the Dragon by Mattia Preti. Note that wearing shorts inside the church is not allowed.