Gozo is a history buff’s paradise, as every spot that is visited either has historical importance or else is linked to folklore and legend.

Perhaps one of the most talked about historical locations in Gozo is the world renowned Ġgantija Temple, which is located in the quaint town of Xagħra. This temple complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is made up of two monumental structures dating back to somewhere between 3600 and 3200 BC, making Ġgantija one of the oldest free-standing structures in the world. To put this into perspective, Ġgantija was built before Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids!

This structure is so large that local folklore has it that Ġgantija was built by giants, and in fact, that is where the name comes from, the Maltese word for giant.

Before departing to another fantastic site, we took advantage of a windmill that is situated very close to the temples, namely Ta’ Kola Windmill, which translates to Nicholas’ Windmill. This windmill, which also forms part of Heritage Malta’s vast array of sites, is a perfect example of how Gozitans used to grind wheat in the past, which eventually would lead to the making of bread, a staple in Maltese cuisine.

After visiting these two amazing sites, we decided to stay in the vicinity and decided to visit one of Gozo’s most prominent churches, Ta’ Pinu Church. This minor basilica is located in Għarb and is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu. This church’s beginnings are a mystery, as there is no official date of when it was built or who did so! It was first recorded in history books in the late 16^th Century, though it was found in extremely bad state.

Besides being extremely eye-catching and surrounded by fields and farmland, the basilica also has a whole section which is dedicated to miracles that are supposed to have occurred thanks to prayers being dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. Interestingly enough, the church also has some folklore, which states that Pietro Dusina had ordered the church to be torn down and rebuilt, however, on the first day of demolition, with the first strike of a hammer, the workman broke his arm, and this was taken to be a sign that the church should remain as is and only be renovated rather than demolished.

There are loads of sites to see in Gozo, so be sure to keep an eye out for these blogs for more interesting titbits.