Gozo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gozo is an island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, second in size to the island of Malta. In Maltese, the island is called Għawdex (pronounced áw-desh). Gozo is part of the country of Malta.

1 Geography
2 Demography
3 Connection to the Maltese 'Mainland'
4 History
5 Ecclesiastical history
6 See also
7 Sources and external links
8 Gozo Photos:

[edit] Geography

Gozo is 67 km² in size, which is approximately the same as Hong Kong Island. It lies approximately 6 km northwest from the nearest point of Malta, is of oval form, 14 km in length and 7.25 km in extreme breadth. Gozo is famed for its grotto of Calypso, at a little distance from which are the ruins of a Cyclopean temple, a most conspicuous monument of antiquity. It is more picturesque than the larger sister island of Malta, and the country, covered as it is with conical hills, is more fertile in its plains and valleys.

Gozo's finest attribute is the stunning Ramla Bay, with it's lurid orange-red sand and crystal clear turquoise waters make it one of the finest beaches in Europe. Nearby San Blas is another world-class beach.

[edit] Demography

In 2005, the island had a population of 31,053; 6,414 of which live in its capital Rabat, also known as Victoria. The crude birth rate was of 7.93, considerably lower than that of 9.59 for Malta. The town with the highest birth rate is San Lawrenz (15.93) and the one with the lowest is Xewkija (4.89).

[edit] Connection to the Maltese 'Mainland'

The construction of a bridge between the two islands was the subject of controversy for years. At present the island is reachable by ferry boat or by helicopter. Regular ferries relay between the port of Ċirkewwa on Malta and Mġarr on Gozo, establishing services for goods, tourism and commuting. Permanent residents of Gozo are able to use the ferry at a subsidised rate, significantly lower than the standard fare. The heliport at Xewkija provides passenger services to the mainland's airport in Luqa. Currently the helicopter service is suspended. The heliport runway might be extended so aircraft can land. This could potenially destroy the uniqueness of this island through pollution, noise and destruction of agricultural land.

[edit] History

Gozo has been inhabitated since the 5^th millennium BC, as witnessed by the megalithic structures at Ġgantija. The first Neolithic settlers probably crossed over from Sicily. Another interesting neolithic structure is the Xagħra Stone Circle.

In July 1551 Ottomans and Barbary pirates conquered Gozo and enslaved all 5,000 or 6,000 inhabitants, bringing them to Tarhuna Wa Msalata in Libya. Their departure port in Gozo was Mġarr ix-Xini.

The history of Gozo is strongly coupled with the history of Malta, since Gozo has been governed by Malta within recent history, with the exception of a short period of autonomy between October 28, 1798 and September 5, 1800.

[edit] Ecclesiastical history

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Gozo (in Latin Goulos-Gaudisiensis), comprises the Island of Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea (seventeen miles west of the harbour of Valetta, Malta) and islet of Comino. On a central plateau the ruined fortifications of an ancient town contain the cathedral church and public buildings, outside of which is a large suburb.

Up to the year 1864, Gozo formed part of the Diocese of Malta, but Pius IX, acceding to the repeated prayer of the clergy and the people, erected it into a separate exempt diocese, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See. On 16 March, 1863, Monsignor Francesco Michele Butigieg, a native of Gozo, was appointed titular Bishop of Lita and deputy auxiliary of the Archbishop-Bishop of Malta, for the Island of Gozo. He was consecrated at Rome on 3 May of the same year, on 22 September, 1864, was created first bishop of the new Diocese of Gozo, and on the 23rd day of the following month made his solemn entry into the new cathedral. Through the efforts of Mgr. Pietro Pace, who was then vicar-general of the diocese, a diocesan seminary was established on the site formerly occupied by the San Giuliano Hospital, the revenues of which were appropriated to the new institution. This seminary was inaugurated 3 November, 1866, and by the express desire of Pope Pius IX placed under the direction of the Jesuits.

On the death of Mgr. Butigieg, Father Micallef, Superior General of the Augustinian Order, was made Bishop of Città di Castello and appointed administrator of the Diocese of Gozo. He left Gozo in May, 1867, and in 1871 became Archbishop of Pisa. His successor to the administration of the diocese was Mgr. Antonio Grech Delicata, titular Bishop of Chalcedon, a native of Malta, who in 1868 was appointed Bishop of Gozo, and as such assisted at the First Vatican Council. Mgr. Grech Delicata's charity towards the poor went so far that he divested himself of his own patrimony. This worthy prelate died on the last day of the year 1876.

On 12 March, 1877, Mgr. Canon Professor Pietro Pace, native of Gozo, was appointed to succeed Mgr. Grech Delicata, and was consecrated at Rome by Cardinal Howard. Under his administration the seminary was augmented by the installation of a meteorological observatory, which was inaugurated by the celebrated Padre Denza, Director of the Vatican Observatory. During this administration an episcopal educational institute for girls was also established, under the care of the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul, to whom was also entrusted the direction of the annexed orphan asylum. The same bishop provided the diocese with a new episcopal palace and new monasteries, besides laying out large sums of money on the cathedral.

In 1889, Mgr. Pace was promoted Archbishop of Rhodes and Bishop of Malta. His successor in the See of Gozo was the Reverend G. M. Camilleri, O.S.A., a native of Valetta (b. 15 March, 1842). Under Mgr. Camilleri's administration the first diocesan synod was celebrated, in October, 1903. This synod was of absolute necessity, as the diocese was still governed under the rules of the Synod of Malta of 1703, and consequently lacked a safe guide adapted to the times. Constitutions and decrees were also promulgated and published which gave new life to the working of the diocese.

The cathedral church of Gozo was built in 1697-1703, by Lorenzo Gafa. Its ground plan is in the form of a Latin cross. Its interior is adorned with fine paintings. The "Massagiere di Maria", an Italian periodical, is recognized in the Diocese of Gozo as the official organ of the sanctuary of the Bl. Virgin ta Pinu.

[edit] Sources and external links

Maltese Ministry for Gozo
Gozo Business Chamber
PhotoGlobe: Gozo A collection of commented photos together with GPS-based coordinates
Gozo Photo Galleries and Webcam

[edit] Gozo Photos:

Ta Cenc Cliffs	8000 year old Cart Ruts at Ta Cenc	5000 year old Dolmen at Ta Cenc	Fungus Rock
Cittadella in Victoria Gozo	Ramla seen from the Sirens' Cave	Gozo Peaceful Scene	Gozo Wild Sea
Gozo Wild Sea	Malta Sunrise	Gozo Sunset	Comino Tower

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Malta Islands

Image:Flag of Malta.svg

Malta Island • Gozo • Comino • Cominotto • Filfla • Islands of St. Paul

edit	Local Councils of Malta	Image:Flag of Malta.svg
Malta Island
Attard \| Balzan \| Birgu (Vittoriosa) \| Birkirkara \| Birżebbuġa \| Bormla (Cospicua) \| Dingli \| Fgura \| Floriana \| Gudja \| Gżira \| Għargħur \| Għaxaq \| Ħamrun \| Iklin \| Isla (Senglea) \| Kalkara \| Kirkop \| Lija \| Luqa \| Marsa \| Marsaskala \| Marsaxlokk \| Mdina \| Mellieħa \| Mġarr \| Mosta \| Mqabba \| Msida \| Mtarfa \| Naxxar \| Paola \| Pembroke \| Pietà \| Qormi \| Qrendi \| Rabat \| Safi \| San Ġiljan (St. Julian's) \| Santa Luċija \| San Pawl il-Baħar (St. Paul's Bay) \| San Ġwann \| Santa Venera \| Siġġiewi \| Sliema \| Swieqi \| Ta' Xbiex \| Tarxien \| Valletta \| Xgħajra \| Żabbar \| Żebbuġ \| Żejtun \| Żurrieq
Gozo Island
Fontana \| Għajnsielem \| Għarb \| Għasri \| Kerċem \| Munxar \| Nadur \| Qala \| Rabat (Victoria) \| San Lawrenz \| Sannat \| Xagħra \| Xewkija \| Żebbuġ