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Gozo

Islands information
NameGozo
Native nameGħawdex
Locationsouth of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea
ArchipelagoMaltese islands
Geography information
Area67 km2 (25.9 mi)
Length14 km (8.7 mi)
Width7.25 km (4.5 mi)
Administration information
Malta
Largest cityVictoria
Administration information
Population31053
Density463.48 km2
Ethnic groupsMaltese people

Gozo

Administration
Full nameGozo
Government
MinisterGiovanna Debono

     Home | Settlement G | Gozo



Gozo ( ) is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago. Compared to its southeastern neighbour, Gozo is more rural and known for its scenic hills, which are featured on its coat of arms.

The island of Gozo has long been identified as Ogygia, the domain of the nymph Calypso in Homer's Odyssey. Calypso, possessed of great supernatural powers, holds Odysseus captive for a number of years because of her love for him before releasing him to continue his journey home.

The island itself has a population of around 31,000 people (all of Malta combined has 402,000), and its inhabitants are known as Gozitans ( ). It is rich in historical locations such as the Ġgantija temples which, along with the Megalithic Temples of Malta, are the world's oldest free-standing structures and also the world's oldest religious structures.

For such a small island, Gozo has a high concentration of churches (22 in all). The Xewkija church has a capacity of 3000, enough for the entire population of Xewkija village, its dome is larger than that of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The church bells are rung daily for the canonical hours Matins, Lauds, Terce, Sext, None and vespers.


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