Tourist Information
Gozo is a small island in the Maltese Archipelago, measuring 67 square km, and is 14 km long by 7 km wide. The island is located just 6 km northwest of Malta, and called “Ghawdex” (read: awdesh) in Maltese. There are approximately 25,000 inhabitants, and their main source of income comes from agriculture and tourism.
Gozo, like Malta, has a colourful and interesting history. It has been occupied for thousands of years, and there is even evidence of inhabitants from approximately 4000 BC. This has resulted in a fantastic blend of culture, religion and architecture, and made Gozo a truly multicultural society.
Gozo, like Malta, has a colourful and interesting history. It has been occupied for thousands of years, and there is even evidence of inhabitants from approximately 4000 BC. This has resulted in a fantastic blend of culture, religion and architecture, and made Gozo a truly multicultural society.
History
The first inhabitants of Gozo are believed to have crossed from the North at around 4000BC. The prehistoric building of Ggantija at Xaghra is ample proof that man has lived on the Island since antiquity.The Phoenicians, Greek and Romans all took to occupying the Island, partly because of its strategic location, and partly to aid trade routes from Africa to Europe.
Since these early occupations, Gozo has been inhabited by the Normans, Spanish, French, the Knights of Jerusalem and the British, and this has led to a mixing of culture, religion, and architecture.
Banking and Finance
The Maltese currency is Lira (LM) and is decimal. It is divided into 100 cents, and each cent is divided into 10 mils.There is not limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors may bring into the country, providing it is declared on arrival, the maximum amount of Maltese currency that can be brought in however, is only LM50. Any unspent currency that is foreign can be taken out, but no more than LM25 may be removed.
Banking hours are generally 8.30am to 12.30pm Mondays to Fridays, and they remain open until 11.30 on Saturdays. Foreign exchange services are available 24-hours, all year round from the airport, and until 4.00pm from most banks. The islands are also home to many ATM machines that accept the major card brands, so it is easy to gain access to your spending money at any time
Health
Malta and Gozo have excellent medical standards and facilities, and can provide expert help to any tourist who suffers illness problems whilst on holiday.Tap water is perfectly safe to drink.
Milk is pasteurised and available daily in cartons and bottles, and all dairy products are safe for consumption.
Chemists are found throughout the islands and are open during normal shopping hours.
On Sundays chemists do open, and it is worth checking the local Sunday papers for exact times and details.
Malta General Hospital
Telephone: 241251
Fax: 240176
Gozo General Hospital
Telephone: 561600
Fax: 560881
Food, Tipping and Shopping
Food is multi cultural, due to the numerous national influences from occupying countries over the years, and a wide diversity is available on the islands.Generally lunch ranges from LM4.00 to LM 7.00, and dinner LM7.50 to LM13.00. There are a number of dining options from buffets to full blown 4/5 course meals.
Tipping is encouraged on the island, however is a service charge has been added then it is not necessary. For restaurants and taxi’s 10% is usual, and 10-15 cents per item of luggage for porters. If discretion and common sense is used, you will have no problems with tipping, but it is always worth checking the individual establishment’s policy if you are unsure.
SHOPPING
Shops are usually open between the hours of 9am and 7pm with a 3-hour lunch break. Shops are not open Sundays and on Public Holidays, but there are regular open-air markets in most towns and villages where a variety of intriguing items can be bought.
Most shops and restaurants accept major credit and charge cards, and the usual close proximity of a bank or ATM machine means that cash is accessible when necessary.
Diving the Islands
The Maltese islands provide a scuba diving paradise, right in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. The three islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino allow divers to experience, amazing scenery, fascinating geological formations, an abundance of wrecks, and colourful and exciting marine life.Diving occurs in Malta all year round, and the sites available can cater for all tastes and abilities.
With wrecks littering the waters around the islands, some dating from World War One, ranging from a depth of 14m to 60m, all levels of experience can be catered for. If wreck diving isn’t your forte, there are many shallow reefs, rock formations, marine species, and swim-throughs to keep you happy.
Malta is famous for its waters excellent visibility, usually 30m+, and with water temperature ranging from 13 degrees in the winter, to 26 degrees Celsius in the summer, Malta almost always has perfect conditions for diving.
If you are wanting to learn to dive on the islands, there are many highly qualified dive centres, and the added bonus of Malta’s excellent conditions allows new divers to get straight into the sea from day one, giving a real under water experience.
Useful Information
Malta is on Central European Time (CET) and is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in winter, and two hours from the last Sunday in March until the last Sunday in October.
The electrical supply in on the Islands is 240 volts, with 13amp three-pin rectangular sockets being used.
Maltese and English are both official languages, however Italian and German are also widely understood.
