Saltpan Walk

THE ISLAND OF

Gozo

Sa S allttp pa an n W Wa allk k

IIn nttrroodduuccttiioo nn

A ssuu nn ssee tt aatt ‘‘RReeqqqqaa PP ooiinn tt ’’ A

This circular walk starts and ends at the open market of Victoria – the main town of the island. From here the walk proceeds to the breathtaking ‘Sara valley’. After visiting Gozo’s oldest basilica, the walk continues to ‘Wied ilG˙asri’, a valley which is flanked by high cliffs and ends in the open sea.

Next is ‘Reqqa point’, where you will see traditional salt pans employed to produce crystal salt through the evaporation of sea water. After reaching ‘Xwejni Bay’ the walk proceeds to the next bay - ‘Qbajjar Bay’, where resting facilities, restaurants and public conveniences are available.

Leaving ‘Qbajjar’ behind, by means of a dusty road, the walk takes you amid the beautiful Gozitan countryside and valleys. Passing by the water courses you will have the opportunity of observing the diverse flora and fauna associated with these unique habitats. The walk then continues back to Victoria.

TT h hee ssaall tt ppaann ss aatt XXw weejjnn ii bbaayy

A route map found in the centre pages of this booklet, together with several stone plinths located along this route, which will help you follow along, offering the best opportunity to truly appreciate the island of Gozo.

Distance: 12 km Time: 5 hrs

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Enjoying nature

TT h hee W Waallkk his walk starts at ‘Pjazza Assunta’ Victoria, the main town of Gozo. In the past, the city was known as ‘Rabat’, an Arabic word meaning ‘the city’. The name ‘Rabat’ was changed to Victoria in 1897 on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Silver Jubilee. The locals still prefer to call it Rabat. Victoria is in the very centre of the island. All roads and bus routes lead to and from Victoria towards other localities.

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‘Assunta Square’ is popularly known as ‘Savina Square’. Some very old houses stand close to the chapel – the main landmark of this square.

Historians disagree on the origins of this chapel’s name. Nowadays, it is known as ‘Savina chapel’ but some historians assert that the original name was ‘Sabina’. However, the

name of the church has nothing to do with Santa Sabina, as it is dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.

The chapel could have acquired its present name from the owner of the land on which it was built.

Leaving ‘Savina square’ behind you, follow the road that passes by the bus shelter. Keep to this main road, which takes a narrow turning to the left. This road is called ‘Saint Ursula Street’. After a few paces, take the first turning on your right. The walk proceeds down ‘Triq l-Img˙allem’ which is dominated by the views of ‘Gelmus hill’ to the left and the towering mass of the Citadel to the right.

‘Ta’ Gelmus’ – the hill on the lefthand side of the road, is a flat-topped hill mostly composed of the reddish 1

Sa S av v iin na a C Ch ha ap pe ell

The present chapel was built during the early 20th century. However the original chapel mentioned in the notarial deeds of the 15th century stood near Rabat’s outer fortifications. The old chapel was dismantled in 1900 and a larger church was built and inaugurated in 1904 by Cardinal Domenico Ferrata. After being enlarged in 1913, it was reopened as the ’Church of Perpetual Adoration’.

The church is open in the morning and late afternoon. The style of the interior is elegant, with some fine stonework around the main altar-piece depicting the Nativity of Our Lady and showing the new fortifications of the citadel, just after completion in 1622. The façade of the chapel has a central niche, featuring a statue of Christ holding out a chalice in his right hand. A flight of stairs leads to the parvis enclosed by iron railings.

soft sandstone, one of the softest sedimentary types of limestone present on the island. Continuous erosion breaks down the soft sandstone into golden sand.

The road eventually levels out as you arrive at the crossroads, at the end of ‘Triq l-Img˙allem’. At this point turn left into ‘Triq Wied Sara’ (1). Keep walking along this narrow road, which is reminiscent of

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Sa S av vii n na a C Ch ha ap pe ell

a not-so-distant past when people rode on horseback.

Along this road you may also appreciate the blended harmony between past and present expressed through the rehabilitation and stylish conversion of old farmhouses. Once the houses give way to the open countryside the road takes you over a bridge across ‘Sara Valley’. This valley is not a permanent fresh water course, as its water supply dries up during the hot summer months.

However, during winter and spring, when water flows through this valley it teems with a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Along this route you will be able to catch a distant view of the Aqueduct that used to convey water from ‘G˙ar Ilma’ to Victoria during the British

FF iirr eew wo or rk ks s s se e tt o offff d du ur rii n ng g a a llo oc ca all ffe es s tt a a

GOZO C CO OU UN N TT RR YY SS II D D EE W WA A LL KK SS

TTa a`` G Gee llm m uuss H H iillll iiss m maaiinnll yy cc oom m ppooss eedd ooff ss aann ddsstt oonnee

era. Distant views of the Citadel and the surrounding hills can also be admired from this point.

On reaching the outskirts of the village of G˙asri the road opens like a three-

pronged fork. The route continues along ‘Triq il-Knisja’ where you will see a curious niche set on the left hand corner of this road.

Moving straight ahead, along this

TT h hee C Ciittaaddeell The Citadel is one of Gozo’s architectural and historic focal points. Its origins are lost in time. The earliest cultural remains discovered so far date back to the temple period circa 3500 BC. The first written reference to a fortified city on Gozo dates back to 1241 and subsequently the Citadel was occupied by a succession of foreign conquerors. The present structure of the Citadel dates to the early 1600’s when the Knights, during the time of Grandmaster Wignacourt, rebuilt the Citadel as we see it today. The locals used to seek shelter in the citadel during the night. In fact until 1637 all Gozitans were required by law to spend the night within the Citadel walls. A drawbridge provided the only entrance, while a ditch surrounded the citadel or ‘Castello’ as it was known at the time.

TTh h ee m myyss tt eerr iioouu ss aann dd ss iillee nntt C C aasstt eell lloo

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TT h hee G Goollddeenn CCaallff Legend has it that gold was extracted from the golden sands found at Ta’ Gelmus hill.

This in turn gave rise to the common belief that a golden calf still lies hidden somewhere. As legend has it, Sidor, a hardworking farmer, toiled from dawn to dusk in order to eke out a poor existence for himself and his family and often dreamt about finding gold. One day his wish came true. He literally struck gold when he found a golden calf. After he had polished and secured it in his sack, he hurried to Calogero, the village goldsmith. The latter could not believe his eyes but after the initial surprise he lost no time in working out a plan to get hold of the priceless golden calf.

The gleaming calf had aroused Calogero’s greed and Machiavellian ingenuity. He explained to Sidor that he could not keep the treasure that the farmer had unearthed in his fields as the Grandmaster had decreed that such valuable items were the property of the treasury of the island. In an apparent show of generosity and sympathy Calogero gave some money to the unsuspecting Sidor in exchange for the golden statuette. Calogero concluded that by taking responsibility for the statuette, the goldsmith would be sparing Sidor a lot of needless trouble. Sidor went back home, unaware of the fact that he had just been taken in. When Sidor told his wily wife about the whole affair, she was furious and after hearing how her husband had been tricked, made sure that the Grandmaster heard about the story. Calogero continued to protest his innocence but was imprisoned for life. He died without revealing the location of the golden calf.

road, you will arrive at a rectangular square dominated by Gozo’s oldest Basilica and a statue of Our Lady.

A row of white and pink oleanders

flank the road. From spring until autumn, this row of oleanders offers a spectacular show of massed flowers.

This church, which

Ann O A Olldd N N iicchhee When it was built in 1773 this niche probably stood undisturbed in the midst of the open countryside, a good distance away from human habitation. The niche depicts an angel visiting Our Lady. Its architectural design is worth noting. A stone balcony that lies in front of the niche stands on three stone pillars, set apart from each other, creating a symmetrical three dimensional design.

It is believed that in the past this niche attracted numerous pilgrims. The holy rosary was recited near this niche and followed by a sermon delivered by a priest from the balcony. Some local historians believe that this niche formed part of a countryside chapel, which was abandoned and fell into ruin.

4 TT h hee A Annnn uu nncciiaatt iioonn

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Sppee cctt aacc uull aarr vviiee w S w ooff W Wiieedd SSaarraa w wiitt hh iitt’’ss aaddjjaacc eenn tt hhiillll ss

Goozzoo’’ss oollddeess tt BBaassiill iiccaa G

dominates this valley, was built in 1739 on the ruins of an earlier one. Sixty years later the church was placed directly under the authority of the Basilica of San Giovanni Laterano in Rome. The church is dedicated to the Espousal of Our Lady, the ‘Madonna tal-Patroçinju’.

Leaving the church behind and walking along the road, you will once again pass by stylishly converted farmhouses.

Along this road, bordered by terraced fields, you may notice the dry farming techniques that are practised here. Dry farming is the growing of a single crop 5

TTh h ee ccooaatt ooff aarrm m ss ooff tt hh ee O Oll dd BBaass iillll iiccaa

per year relying solely on the winter’s rainfall. Several rubble walls are present to prevent soil erosion caused by heavy downpours. You can also

TTee rrrr a acceedd ffiieell ddss cchhaarr aaccttee rriiss ee G G oozz iittaann ccoouu nntt rryy ssiiddee

TTh h ee bbee llll ooff tt hhee O Olldd BBaass iill lliiccaa

notice scattered field houses or rather, dry-wall huts, that are used for shelter, storage and as a resting place by the farmers.

Eventually you will reach another set of cross roads (2). Towering to the right is the village of Ûebbu©. The road on your left leads to ‘Wied ilG˙asri’ while the road straight ahead leads to ‘Reqqa point’.

At this point you can leave the set route and explore ‘G˙asri valley’ before continuing the walk. In order to do so, you may take the road to the left and walk straight along it.

‘G˙asri valley’ is a deep gorge-like

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GOZO C CO O UU N N TT RR YY SS II DD EE W W AA LL KK SS valley with very high steep cliffs. This valley follows a winding path that leads to the open sea. A small, secluded pebbly bay lies at the mouth of the valley. Although it seems inaccessible, a series of steps have been cut into one side of the cliff face.

Leaving ‘G˙asri valley’ behind, TThh ee llaarr vvaa ooff tthh ee sswwaall llooww ttaallll bbuu tttteerr ffllyy retrace your steps to the cross roads and take the road straight ahead.

Walking along this road, the saltpans As soon the road turns towards the soon come into full view. For your coast, you should be able to catch a interest, a brief legend which glimpse of the blue Mediterranean narrates the origin of some of these Sea. A number of African Tamarisk saltpans is found on the opposite and Bianca trees have been planted page. on both sides of the road, as a result of a reforestation initiative.

Moving along the coast you may

TTh h ee ‘‘pprriiddee ooff ppiinnkk ’’ oollee aann ddeerr

TTh h ee sstt oonnee ccrr ooss ss

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TTh hee W Waattcchhm m aakkeerr’’ss SS aallttppaann ss

TTh h ee ss ee aa dduurr iinn gg w wiinn ttee rr ddaayyss

It is believed that a rich watchmaker who lived in Ûebbu©, owned a lot of property in Gozo. His avidity was insatiable. At one stage the watchmaker decided that there was a fortune to be made through the production of salt. Therefore, one day he commissioned some workers to build the saltpans by digging them out in the soft coastal limestone.

However, filling the saltpans with saltwater proved arduous as the sea level was over fifteen metres below. As the ridged coastline is full of caves and tunnels, he decided to dig a shaft down to one of the tunnels. In this way when the waves hit the coast, water would rush up the shaft and fill the saltpans with sea water.

Having dug the shaft during summer, he waited for the winter months to see if the idea would work. When winter arrived and the sea began to crash against the rocks, water was forced up the shaft and filled up all the saltpans. However, the area where he had dug his saltpans was composed of porous rock and the saltwater was absorbed by the rock instead of evaporating. To make matters worse, when the sea was very rough, the sea water spurted like a geyser and saltwater was sprayed over an area of several kilometres, destroying the crops in the neighbouring fields. The farmers were angered by this threat to their livelihood and decided to fill up the shaft with large rocks.

Whh eenn tt hhee ss eeaa iiss vvee rryy rroouugghh ss eeaaw W waatt eerr ss ppuu rrtt ss ll iikk ee aa ggee yyss eerr aanndd ss aall ttyy w waattee rr sshh oow weerr ss tt hh ee aarr eeaa!!

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GOZO C CO OU UN N TT RR YY SS II D D EE W WA A LL KK SS

TTh hee ggoorrggee aatt W W iiee dd ll-- G Ghh aassrr ii

come across several enthusiastic anglers who use a mixture of old and new fishing techniques. Fishing is a very common pastime in Gozo. After Easter, the site is the haunt of divers.

The area offers very pleasant and eye-catching underwater scenery and life. It is also a favourite venue for those who seek the cooler seaside locations during the hot summer evenings and hold barbecues with their friends and families. In fact there are a few sign posts that warn people not to hold barbecues near the saltpans and to keep the area free of debris or waste, as this negatively affects the quality of the salt produced.

TT h hee ss oouu tt hhee rrnn ddaaiiss yy

The next stop is ‘Xwejni bay’. This bay owes its name to the Maltese word ‘xini’, which means galley. A telephone box can be found along the road. This site consists of a bay and a rocky coast made of globigerina limestone with its typical pattern of erosion. At some points the area is covered with both upper

G lloobbiiggee rriinn aa lliim G mee ss ttoonn ee iiss qquuiitt ee SSoofftt

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The saltpans of Xwejni Bay

coralline limestone coralline limestone.

and

lower

The bay has a shallow reef and a pebbly beach and is very popular with practitioners of all types of water sports including swimming, scuba diving and fishing. A slipway is also present, where you may come across fishermen preparing to put out to sea.

The traditional fishing boat, known as the ‘luzzu’, is made of wood and typically brightly decorated.

According to local ancient traditions the eyes painted at the bow (representing the eye of Osiris) are meant to protect the fishermen when out at sea by keeping them out of harm’s way.

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FFii ss h hiinn gg iiss aa ssppoorr tt tt hh aatt iiss ee nnjjooyyee dd bbyy aa nn uu m mbbeerr ooff llooccaall ss

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Xwejna Bay as seen from an elevated point

On the eastern side of the bay one can note a small outcrop called ‘Il-Qolla l-Bajda’.

The area underneath this hill is full of rock pools usually inhabited by glass prawn. From ‘Xwejni’ you can continue to walk straight ahead until the road forks. Take the road to the right. In the distance you can see the ‘Qolla l-Bajda battery’, on the spur of land that separates ‘Xwejni’ from ‘Qbajjar bay’.

‘‘IIll--Q Qoo llllaa ll--BB aajjddaa’’ BBaatttteerr yy This battery was built in 1716 and was mounted with six guns. During World War II it served as observation post No. 5. Later in the 1980s it was rented out to a private enterprise that converted the battery into a disco. This battery is one of the only two remaining batteries on the island; the other is located in Qala.

A ccrr aabb rree sstt iinn gg iinn aa ccrr aacckk ffoouu nndd iinn oonnee ooff tt hhee rroocckk ss A

TT h hee O Olldd BBaatttt eerr yy

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‘‘IIll --Q Qoollll aa ll-- BBaajjddaa’’

‘Qbajjar bay’ is a very popular area with both tourists and locals. In fact, quite a few restaurants and bars have mushroomed in order to service the visitors’ needs. Walking along this coastal road you will soon reach a junction. The walk continues straight ahead. Public conveniences are located a little way up the road to the left.

TTh h ee ccllee aarr aann dd ccll eeaann w waattee rrss ooff ‘‘XXw weejjnn ii BBaayy ’’

Soon, the plateau upon which the village of Ûebbu© stands comes into view to your right, while the conical pointed hill you can see to your left is known as ‘Il-Qolla s-Safra’ or the yellow rock. This hill is made up of sandstone that gives it its golden appearance. It is documented that another hill known as ‘Il-Qolla lÓamra’ (the red rock) stood just below the Ûebbu© plateau; however, it disappeared completely as a result of intense natural erosion (3).

When this dusty road winds to its end, take a right turn and then turn left after a few metres. Once again you may notice many terraced, dry farmed fields flanking the winding bumpy cart track. One of the main functions of rubble walls is to prevent soil erosion caused by heavy downpours. This track offers a distant panoramic view of the Citadel, distinctly perched upon its hill.

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TTh h ee ee nnddee m miicc G G oozz oo H Hyy oossee rriiss

GOZO C CO OU UN N TT RR YY SS II D D EE W WA A LL KK SS

Qbbaajjjjaarr BBaayy Q

The hill with the statue of Christ the Saviour on top, is a curious landmark and is known as ‘IlMerΩuq’ also referred to as ‘Tas-Salvatur’ (of the Saviour).

Wiill dd aarrtt iicchhookkee fflloow W wee rr

numerous damselflies and dragonflies engage in courting rituals. The maidenhair fern is present in sheltered areas along the banks.

This track eventually catches up with the main road linking Victoria to Marsalforn. On reaching this road, turn right and walk straight on towards Victoria. Take the first side street on the left side of the asphalted road leading to Victoria. This country road passes by one of the most picturesque valleys of Gozo.

Here you can observe the rare sharp rush and the southern reed-mace that grow abundantly by the banks of this valley. Fauna associated with fresh water courses is also found in this habitat.

Here the life cycle of the painted frog can be studied in full, whereas the II ll-- Q Qooll llaa ll --H H aam mrraa

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IIss --S Saall vvaattuu rr -- tt hhiiss hh iill ll ggiivv eess tthh ee iim mpprree ssss iioonn ooff aa ssm m aall ll ddoorr m maann tt vvoollccaann oo

Walking along the valley you can see a large vineyard that flanks one side of the country lane. The presence of black plastic pipes in the adjacent fields show that drip irrigation is now being used to water the crops.

‘Il-MerΩuq’ ~ Some locals believe that this hill is an extinct volcano. However, the rock is not sulphurous and its limestone formation shows that it never was a volcano at all. In 1901 a large wooden cross was placed on the very top of the hill. This was replaced by a stone statue of Christ the Saviour, which is how this hill became know as ‘IsSalvatur’ (The Saviour). The 38-foothigh concrete statue that replaced the crumbling cross was made by the renowned Gozitan sculptor Wistin Camilleri.

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Several tree species are also present along the valley banks (4). The aleppo pine, evergreen oak and the rare white poplar are among the tree species present in this area. When the country lane comes to an end, a footpath on the left leads to the main road linking Victoria to Marsalforn Bay. As you walk uphill towards Victoria, the large white building to the right is the friary of the Capuchin Fathers.

This church is dedicated to Our Lady of Graces. The site was previously occupied by another chapel that was first dedicated to St. Julian, then to St. Agatha and finally to the Nativity of Our Lady. It is said that one of the secret tunnels used as an escape

GOZO C CO O UU N N TT RR YY SS II DD EE W W AA LL KK SS route from the Citadel led to this very site, until it was closed by the Capuchins.

The walk leads you uphill until you reach the main cross roads in Victoria. To your left a stone cross and a fountain can be seen. The stone cross is similar to the many crosses scattered all over Gozo, the purpose of which is still debated. The fountain by the wall was installed in 1881.

It has recently been restored as part of its stonework had crumbled as a result of erosion. In the past, this fountain served as a resting and drinking place for the donkeys and horses of those people coming to Rabat from the outlying areas.

Turn right and walk up Republic Street until you reach Independence Square, the main square of the town. Independence Square was formerly known as ‘It-Tokk’.

The word ‘It-Tokk’ is derived from an old Arabic word meaning an open space or meeting area. Many civil and social activities take place in this square.

Every morning this square houses an open market, where all sorts of objects, ranging from clothes to souvenirs, are sold. A large bronze statue of Christ stands on one side of the square. It was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth II in May 1954 to

TTh h ee bbll uuee ffll oow wee rr ooff tt hh ee bboorraaggee

commemorate the Gozitans who were killed during the Second World War.

A sshh oorrtt ccuu tt tt oo tt hhee CC iitt aaddeell A

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Ouurr LLaaddyy ooff G O G rraacceess C Chhuurr cchh The main altar piece of the church depicts Our Lady of Graces, and a procession entering the church. This was painted by the artist Stefano Erardi. Up to 1968 the Cathedral chapter used to come in procession to the church every second Sunday of January.

This procession was held in honour of a vow connected with the repeated earthquakes that shook the Maltese islands on 11th January 1963 and TTh h ee C C hh uurr cchh ooff O Ouu rr LLaaddyy ooff G Grraaccee ss caused a great deal of damage. Many Gozitans vowed to visit the church and hold thanksgiving services in honour of Our Lady.

The tabernacle on the high altar is made of Gozitan alabaster brought from the village of Ûebbu©. The crucifix over the altar of the third chapel to the left, is claimed to be miraculous and has considerable artistic merits. It dates back to the 17th century and it belonged to a rich man from Messina in Sicily. One day the residence where it was housed caught fire and everything was destroyed except for the crucifix. On another occasion the crucifix was on a schooner travelling to Syracuse, when a terrible tempest broke out. The crew made a vow that if they survived the tempest, they would donate the crucifix to the inhabitants of the place where they landed. The place happened to be Malta, so it was donated to Our Lady of Victories Church in Valletta. Then it changed hands and it was given to Canon Aguis de Soldanis who in turn presented it to the Capuchin friars. Below this crucifix lies the body of St. Fortunatus Martyr. The body of St. Facundus lies in the opposite chapel whereas Fra Baskal, who hailed from Ûebbu© lies buried in the crypt of the church.

The Banca Giuratale, (the large baroque building standing at the top end of the square), was built by

Grand Master De Vilhena in 1 7 3 3 .

It served as the official premises of the island’s administrators of the time.

Nowadays the building houses the

A PPrroo pphheettiicc D A Drreeaam m

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There is also a legend associated with the coming of the Capuchins to Gozo. The Capuchins were offered three different sites: St. Dominica Church, ‘Tal-Inbra’ and the present site. On one of their visits to inspect the sites, they went to the Church of Our Lady of Graces. A mysterious woman went up to them and started shouting that they were the friars she used to see every evening entering the church.

The friars pointed out that the place was not occupied by friars; however, the woman continued to assure them that she was telling the truth. Taking this to be Divine Intervention, the friars decided to opt for the present site.

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TTh hee ss ttoonn ee ccrroossss aann dd tt hhee ddrriinn kkiinngg ffoouu nntt aaiinn

Victoria Local Council and the Department of Information. At the opposite end of the square facing this building stands St. James Chapel.

Leaving Independence Square and walking straight ahead is Pjazza Assunta, the starting place of this walk.

II ttee m mss ffoouunn dd iinn tthh ee ooppee nn m maarrkkee tt aatt tthh ee ‘‘PP jjaazzzz aa ttaatt --TTookkkk ’’

Stt.. JJ aam S m eess C Chhaappeell The present chapel is not an old one. The original chapel stood near the Citadel, which after being severely damaged during the Turkish invasion of 1575, was rebuilt in 1740 on the present site.

Unfortunately, in 1979 it had to be pulled down again, due to damage caused to its foundations during excavations that were needed for the public conveniences located at the other end of the square. It was further damaged when the shops underneath the church were being enlarged. The chapel was rebuilt and reopened in 1997.

In front of the church lies the ‘zuntier’ a Maltese word meaning parvis. It is a feature common to most chapels on the island and is usually enclosed by a low wall or iron gate. The chapel is open every morning and afternoon. The main altarpiece dates back to 1742. A painting on the left wall of the chapel represents St. Theresa of Avila and St. Rosa of Lima while on the right-hand side a niche houses a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows.

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TT iip ps s F Fo or r T Th he e R Ro oa ad d Hike only along the set route. Fields are privately owned so do not take any short cuts.

Do not climb over rubble walls; they are easily damaged.

Do not leave any litter; dispose of all litter in the dustbins found along the route.

Respect the privacy of people living along the walk.

Do not trample upon or pick any flowers and plants; take only photographs.

Do not widen any trails by foot, this would damage the habitat through increased erosion.

Do not throw any stones or other objects in the valleys.

Avoid walking or cycling close to the cliff edges. Sudden gusts of wind can be dangerous to the unsuspecting hiker.

It is advisable to tackle the route in broad daylight. Therefore when planning your walk, allow time for stops, resting, photographing etc.

Bird trapping and hunting are practised in the countryside. There are, however, strict regulations determining areas where such activities are permitted and times of the year where no such activities are allowed.

The following table depicts typical average weather conditions including temperature, hours of sunshine/day, rainfall and sea temperatures. Walking conditions are most favourable during the months of January, February, May, November and December.

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FFa acciilliittiieess The route is suitable for pedestrians, horse rides and pedal bikers.

Most of the route is accessible to small vehicles servicing less able persons.

Before embarking on the walk you should check the local weather forecast, as sheltering from rain in the open countryside is difficult. Carry a raincoat when the weather is not stable.

After heavy downpours allow a few hours to pass, before crossing any valleys.

The use of adequate hiking shoes is recommended. Tread carefully when route takes you over clay footpaths.

As most of the route is in the open countryside it is advisable to carry a packed lunch.

It is possible to buy food from Victoria and Qbajjar.

Public conveniences are available at Qbajjar.

U sseeffuull TT eelleepphhoonnee N U Nuu m mbbeerrss

A tt yyppiiccaall ooll dd bbaallccoonn yy A

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Email: info@visitmalta.com

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Date of publication: March 2005

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Text: Etienne Micallef Photos: Etienne Micallef Map: Andre Micallef Grimaund Produced by the: Malta Tourism Authority’s Product Planning and Development Directorate

Saallttppaann W S Waallkk Trekking along this route, you will definitely come to appreciate how history, folklore and traditions are intertwined within the context of the Gozitan countryside. This walk offers you the opportunity to explore one of the smaller villages on Gozo, G˙asri and discover the secret of local salt at Xwejni, while rambling through characteristic hills and valleys and enjoying the vast endless stretch of the Mediterranean Sea.

W aallkkss iinn tthhee sseerriieess ((iissssuueedd ttoo ddaattee)) W TTa a’’ Ì Ìuurr ddaann W Waallkk

Baa˙˙rriijjaa W B Waallkk

Passing through:

Passing through:

G˙arb - Wied il-Miela˙ G˙asri Valley - Ta’ Ìurdan Ta’ Pinu

Ba˙rija - Ba˙rija Valley - Mtahleb Tal-Vigarju Cliffs - Fiddien Valley - Rabat

Daa˙˙ lleett Q D Qoorrrr oott W Waallkk

Giirrggeennttii W G Waallkk

Passing through:

Passing through:

Nadur - Da˙let Qorrot Bay Ta’ Griegel Valley - Qala

Buskett - G˙ar il-kbir Girgenti Valley Si©©iewi - Il-Maqluba - Qrendi

Raam R mllaa BB aayy W Waallkk

Maarr ffaa RR iiddggee W M Waallkk

Passing through:

Passing through:

Nadur - Wied Bin©emma Ramla Bay - Ta’ Óamet

G˙adira - L-A˙rax tal-Mellie˙a Armier - Marfa - Çirkewwa Ras il-Qammieh

Saallttppaann W S Waallkk

Dw D weejjrraa LLiinneess W Waallkk

Passing through:

Passing through:

Victoria - Sara Valley G˙asri - G˙asri Valley Reqqa Point - Xwejni

M©arr - Bin©emma - Dwejra Lines Speranza Valley - Mosta

Go G ozz oo C Coouu nnttrryyss iiddee W Waallkkss iiss aa ppaarrttnneerrss hhii pp pprroojjee cctt ooff tt hhee :: M ii n M niiss ttrryy ff oorr G Goozz oo,, M Miinnii sstt rryy ff oorr TT oouu rriiss m m aanndd Cu C u llttu u rree,, tthhee M Maallttaa TToouu rriiss m mA Auutt hhoorrii ttyy aanndd tthhee G Go ozz o o TT o ou u rriiss m mA Assss oocciiaattiioonn

TT hhee pprr oojjee cctt w w aass llaauu nncchheedd ii nn 220000 22,, tthhee W Woorr lldd TT oouu rriiss m m O Orr ggaannii ssaa ttiioonn’’ ss II nnttee rrnnaattii oonnaall YYee aarr ooff EEccoottoouurrii ssm m..

Price Lm1.00