Victoria (Malta)
Victoria/Rabat is in Gozo. It should not be confused with another town having the name Rabat on the main island of Malta.
==Get in==
Rabat lies at the center of the island and most of the roads pass through it. There are several car parks and bus routes near to the Citadella.
Get around
The main visitor attractions are in the central Citadella, which is inaccessible to cars, so walking is the only option.
Understand
In the 19th century, the name 'Victoria' was coined by the British government for the whole settlement. Nowadays, Gozitans generally refer to the settlement as 'Rabat', which can cause confusion with the town of the same name on the island of Malta (which, similarly, is the area outside the walls of the old Maltese capital Mdina).
See
CitadellaGo up to the Citadella and walk around the entire perimeter and enjoy the very beautiful 360 degree view of Gozo at your feet. Visit the cathedral of Gozo, and the Gozo archaeological museum with Islamic tombstones, ask for Steven, show interest and knowledge and he might give you a personal tour of the museum. The other museums in the Citadella are of considerably less interest.
War MemorialThis monument commemorates Gozitans who died in WWII. The monument is a bronze statue of Christ the King made by sculptor Carlo Pisi of Rome. Queen Elizabeth II unveiled the monument on 7 May 1954.
Banca GiurataleThe Banca Giuratale is a semi-circular baroque building, which today houses the Victoria Local Council, in Independence Square. The building dates back to 1733 where it served as the official premises of the jurats of Gozo. It was commissioned by Grand Master De Vilhena and the Governor of Gozo.
Do
- Once a year there are traditional horseraces through the centre of town.
Buy
Eat
-
Ta'Rikardu
address: Triq Iz-Zenqa
In the Citadel when one takes the alley up the left side of the Church there is a door with a barrel next to it with local produce on display on top of it. The place is called Tal' Rikardu. If one goes inside and up the stairs one can order the main dish they do here, a filling plate of fresh farmer food. They have recently expanded the menu to include fabulous maltese revioli, and fenkata by order.
Go next
- Ġgantija Temples are situated in the nearby town of Xaghra. They are regarded as one of the oldest freestanding buildings in the world, as such they have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Buses run regularly between Victoria and Xaghra, except on Sundays. A taxi should cost around €18 return.
- Għajnsielem