Cittadella Gozo - An extraordinary 3500 years
The Cittadella, also known as Castello, is an impressive fortress perched on a rock in the north-east of the capital Victoria on the island of Gozo. With its fascinating history and strategic location, the Cittadella is one of the most important sights on the island of Gozo and attracts millions of tourists.
Cittadella Gozo – Short answer for quick readers
- Walkable castle walls and breathtaking 360-degree view over Gozo.
- The restoration of the Cittadella until 2016 won numerous architectural awards.
- Visitor centre with multilingual 3D animation.
- Currently on the UNESCO Tentative List, but not yet recognised as a World Heritage Site.
- Open daily all year round, except on a few public holidays.
Facts about the cultural significance of the Cittadella
The Citadel (Maltese: Il-Cittadel) or Castello (Maltese: Il-Kastell) is located north-east of the capital Victoria. People have lived in the San Lawrenz area since the Stone Age. There is evidence of settlement in the area around the citadel since the Bronze Age.
The fortified town complex Il-Cittadel served Gozo’s population as a
- Sanctuary,
- religious place,
- Defence system
and includes many historic buildings.
Architecture of the Cittadella
The Cittadella is an outstanding example of medieval fortress architecture. Its walls, towers and street layout show a well thought-out urban planning and defence strategy. The Cittadella essentially consists of and includes the following buildings
- Hills and the defence towers
- Massive walls and a deep moat
- Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Catedral Santa Marija)
- Cathedral of St John (Cathedral of St John’s Cavalier)
- Gozo Museum of Archaeology
- Gran Castello Historic House
- Museum of Folklore (Folklore Museum for Agriculture and Stonemasonry)
- The old prison
- Gozo Nature Museum
- Citadel Visitor Centre
- World War II Shelter
Legends about the Cittadella and impressive stories
The Phoenicians, the legendary Mediterranean seafarers, built the Gaulos acropolis on the hill of today’s Cittadella. In ancient times, an acropolis was simply a castle situated above a town. The rulers extended and adapted the castle to the situation at the time. This is how the Cittadella of Gozo survived the wars of 2,500 years until the late Middle Ages.
The Romans remodelled the Acropolis and added a temple to it
After the conquest of Gozo by the Romans, Gaulos was renamed Glauconis Civitas. In addition to providing protection for the inhabitants of Gozo, it also served as an administrative centre. The inhabitants of the cittadella were privileged citizens of Gozo. With the decline of the Roman Empire in Eastern Rome and Western Rome, the Romans left Gozo around the 8th century.
Conversion of the Cittadella into a fortress by the Order of St John – Destroyed by the Ottomans
From 1524, the Knights of St John fortified the Cittadella. It provided the Gozitans (name for people living on Gozo) with refuge and protection from passing pirates and attackers. The inhabited Cittadella was a military outpost of Malta. Glauconis Civitas developed outside the walls and corresponds to the historical centre of Victoria.
Ottomans plundered the Cittadella
During the first Ottoman invasion in 1551, Gozo and the Cittadella fell into Ottoman hands after just a few days. 5,000 to 6,000 Gozitans and knights of the Order were taken to Tripoli as slaves. The Cittadella was plundered and destroyed.
The last military reconstruction and a moat
The 49th Grand Master of the Order of Knights and ‘architect’ of Valletta, Jean Parisot de Valette, visited the Cittadella with the military engineer Francesco Laparelli after the siege. The Cittadella was then renovated between 1599 and 1622 by the military engineer Giovanni Rinaldini under the direction of Vittorio Cassar.
- The south wall, which was at great risk in times of war, is reinforced
- Parts of the medieval city wall replaced
- Moats between the south wall and a protruding wall
- Walls in the north repaired and renewed
The Pope and the Church participate in the construction of the church in Cittadella
Archpriest Dun Karlu Margie organised the financing of the cathedral building through a fund. The laying of the foundation stone on 21 September 1697 marked the start of construction of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was consecrated in 1711. In 1864, the Cathedral of the Assumption became a diocese and thus a bishop’s see. As of 2023, there were eight bishops at the episcopal see.
The French occupiers were detained in the Cittadella
The Cittadella was abandoned by the Order of St John during the French invasion by General Napoleon Bonaparte in June 1798. They left Malta and Gozo without a fight. Under the command of the Archpriest of Gozo’s town of Ir-Rabat, Saverio Cassar, the Gozitans started a rebellion. The French entrenched themselves in the Cittadella on Gozo. 6 weeks later they surrendered to the Gozitans.
World War 2 and the Cittadella air raid shelters
During the Second World War there were 2 air raid shelters under the Cittadella. As Gozo was directly in front of the Axis power and warmonger Italy, the British reinforced the defences of the Cittadella. During the air raids, some buildings and fortifications suffered considerable damage. Favourite targets were the airfields in the south and the military harbour facilities between Valletta and Birgu.
The restoration work on the Cittadella
The Cittadella project was the largest project in Gozo this millennium. The Ministry for Gozo is coordinating the Cittadella Masterplan with 21 tenders. Extensive and interesting archaeological discoveries were made during the works between March 2014 and June 2016:
- Secret corridors
- Former entrances or entrance to the Cittadella
- Pits from the Bronze Age
The Cittadella renovation and restoration project has become Europe’s winner of the Regiostars Award. This is the first time that an EU project carried out in Malta has won an award.
What the visitor centre has to offer
The visitor centre is located on a large scale below the Cittadella in the two former water reservoirs. The two water reservoirs were built in the moat around 1870. You can reach the visitor centre via the stairs or the panoramic lift. This provides barrier-free access to the visitor centre for people with disabilities. The following facilities are housed in the reservoirs:
- Information desk
- Interpreting facility for audio guide in 8 languages
- Various exhibitions on the history and culture of Cittadella and Gozo
- The multi-sensory theatre shows the history of the Cittadella in a 3D film
- Souvenir shop
- Café and recreation room
Visitors to the Cittadella with visual and hearing impairments receive this support
Visitors to the Cittadella Visitor Centre who are visually or hearing impaired can experience the historical surroundings with the support of barrier-free communication. The visitor centre provides access to the history of the Cittadella in eight languages.
The opening hours of the Cittadella on Gozo
Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00 and closed on Monday. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time. The city in the Cittadella is car-free, a paid car park is available in front of the Cittadella. Bus stops are up to 600 metres away.
- Address: Castle Hill, Rabat, Gozo
- Phone: +356 2215 6507
- Website: www.gozocathedral.mt
- Closed: 1.1., 24.12., 25.12., 31.12. and on Good Friday
Arrival by public transport
Depending on the bus stop, you can travel up to around 600 metres from the Cittadella by public transport. The bus stops in the vicinity are:
- Victoria Bay (main bus station) 301, 302, 303, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 322, 323, 330, N301
- Savina 312
- Opera 312
- Repubblika 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313
- Imghallen 308, 311
The pricing model and admission prices of the Cittadella
You can visit the Cittadella, including the small townhouses, free of charge during opening hours. It offers you a breathtaking 360-degree view over Gozo from the massive Cittadella castle walls.
Inexpensive combined tickets are available for the museums and historical sites.
- Gozo Archaeological Museum
- Gran Castello
- Old prison
- Gozo Nature Museum
- Citadel visitor centre
These can be purchased online from Heritage Malta or at the ticket office in the visitor centre. Heritage Malta is the national agency for the management and protection of Malta’s cultural heritage.
- Infants up to 5 years – free
- Children from 6 years – 2,50 Euro
- Students – 3,50 Euro
- Adults – 5,00 Euro
- Seniors from the age of 60 – 3.50 euros
- Family ticket 35,00 Euro*
The online ticket is valid for single entry over the next 30 days. Visitors with a reduced admission ticket require an official proof of age or certificate. Enquiries for group discounts should be sent to: [email protected]
FAQ - Do you have questions about the Cittadella on Gozo? We give you the answers
On which days is the Cittadella closed?
Which bus connections go to Cittadella?
Is the Cittadella equipped for visually and hearing impaired visitors?
Are there water reservoirs or ditches in the Cittadella?
When is the restaurant at the Cittadella open?
Can the Cittadella be driven on by car?
Is there free WLAN in the Cittadella?
Are you missing a question?
Get in touch with us. We are sure we have the right answer.
Conclusion: Is a visit to the Cittadella worthwhile?
With its unique architecture, fascinating history and strategic location, the Cittadella Gozo is an impressive example of medieval fortifications. The site of the Cittadella or Castello was settled in the Bronze Age at the latest and has an eventful history dating back thousands of years. This is reflected in its unique architecture and the many historical sights.
A visit to the Cittadella of Gozo will enrich your stay in Malta. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of the Cittadella of Gozo and discover the special details and make your visit an unforgettable experience. The Cittadella is one of the most important and most visited tourist hubs in Gozo. It has been on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malta since 1998.
Danke, dass Sie sich die Zeit zum Lesen genommen haben!
