Things to see and do Victoria - Rabat

The Citadel, or Gran Castello, was built by the Knights in the ^15th century. The Citadel's north side dates back to the Aragonese period, while the south side was rebuilt under the Knights of St. John, between 1599 and 1603. From its hilltop position, the Citadel kept watch over the whole island, defending it against Ottoman attackers and frequent pirate raids. Until 1637, all the island's inhabitants made their way to the citadel at sunset, where they spent the night, safe from attack. By the ^18th century, its defensive role had come to an end, and the citadel was abandoned. You'll notice the arches supporting the ceilings and exterior vaults: the limestone beams can't exceed 1.50 m without risking cracking.

The Visitor Center. Since the Citadel's renovation, the city's former water reservoirs have been converted into a small museum of the Citadel and Victoria. After taking in the various museographical elements, a show takes you through a dark tunnel to discover Calypso (or rather, her hologram), followed by an 8-minute 3D projection on the ancient walls of the reservoir, where you'll be taken through Gozo's history.

The ramparts. From here, there are beautiful views of the sea and neighboring villages: Zebbug, Marsalforn and its hill, Xaghra and its church and, in the far east, Qala. To the southeast, we can make out Xewkija and, almost in line, Comino and Malta. From the bastion of San Michele, you can see the cathedral's dome, the dome of Xewkija's church and, less clearly, the headquarters of one of the two brass band clubs, the Stella, with its small dome and flag, as well as the theater of the other, the Astra.

The moat. They have been uncovered since the renovation, which was accompanied by the creation of new flowered areas. With a view to modernization, many events and concerts are now held in the former moat, with its unreal acoustics and majestic setting.

The grain silos. On the ramparts, an interesting World War II shelter in former grain silos used to supply the lord's court in case of siege. The narrow tunnels lead to three huge oval caves carved in stone, with openings at the top for pouring grain and, during the war, water. The echo is fantastic...

Along the streets. Lose yourself in the winding lanes - at night, the spectacle is even more magical - and you'll stumble across the historic chapel of Saint Joseph and a number of sacred niches and bas-reliefs. Pay close attention to the well-preserved Norman-style windows and arches, and the coats of arms inlaid on the facades of historic houses and churches.

Craftsmanship. Gourmet stores sell cheeses, honeys, nougats and wines, including the typical cittadella (red or white). Through the open doors of some stores, you can see women busy with lace-making. Near the little ^16th-century chapel of San Giuseppe, a pretty old house displays interesting local objects, weapons and traditional tools. Near the bastion, in a side street, jewelry, lace and candle makers set up shop.

Construction of the basilica dates back to 1678, but it was subsequently severely damaged during the earthquake of 1693. Reconstruction is long, because costly. Thus the facade was completed in 1818, the wings and dome in the twentieth century. The basilica owes its decoration to Italian painters: Gian Battista Conti for the frescoes of the dome, Giuseppe Cali, as well as Mattia Preti for his Saint George and the Dragon and, finally, the sculptor Paolo Azzopardi for a representation of Saint George (1841).

Strings are available at the entrance if you have the shoulders discovered. With great luck, you can attend a mass. There are every hour at weekends!

The festival of Saint George takes place on the third Sunday in July.

Located inside the citadel, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption and guarded by two cannons symbolizing the power of the Church, it was built between 1697 and 1711. When it was built, money ran out and the dome initially planned was replaced by a flat roof, with a very curious false dome painted in trompe l'oeil, made by the Sicilian master Antonio Manuele. Our Lady of the Assumption was built according to the plans of the Italian architect Lorenzo Gafà. Like that of the co-cathedral of Valletta, its floor is paved with marble tombs of bishops and priests. You will notice a Virgin who looks like a wax doll and a Christ carrying his cross. These naive paintings are executed in the purest tradition of Maltese religious paintings. The baptistery is made of onyx, a rare yet local material as it comes from Gozo. Every year, on August 15, the statue of the Virgin Mary leaves the cathedral and, carried by a dozen men, goes around Victoria. It is then that the central gate dating from 1956 is reopened (now walled up since the original gate to its right was rehabilitated during the renovation, a condition sine qua non for the inscription of the citadel to Unesco) to allow the monumental statue to pass through exceptionally. The Basilica of St. George is not to be outdone, and the two processions each carry their statue through the streets of the city. This pious competition sometimes gives rise to both comic and dramatic outbursts. One year, on the eve of the procession, the wings of the statue of St. George were stolen, and neither the wings nor the thief were found. Twenty years later, the story is still being told.

The museum. In addition to its collection of religious art, the museum displays a carriage and stones that were part of the cathedral's treasure. You can also see paintings by famous Maltese painters such as Giuseppe Hyzler and Michele Busetti, priestly vestments, as well as gold and silver objects of worship.

The ancient bells of the cathedral are displayed in a niche located in Mdina Door Street (the street that leads to the Craft Center). There are five of them, lined up neatly in order of size. A small sign indicates their date of manufacture (1639 for the oldest), the name of the person who cast them, the notes they play (D, F, A, D sharp, A sharp), their diameter (from 735 to 1,472 mm) and their weight (from 400 to 2,000 kg).

Apart from its collection of religious art, it also displays a carriage and stones that were part of the cathedral's treasure. You can also see paintings by famous Maltese artists such as Giuseppe Hyzler and Michele Busetti and discover priestly vestments and gold and silver objects of worship. The museum can be reached from Rue de la Fosse, which runs up to the left of the cathedral. The Bishop's Palace and the Law Courts are located in the square where the Cathedral and its museum are situated.

Housed in the Palazzo Bondi, a ^17th-century noble residence, it traces the island's history from prehistoric remains to the Middle Ages, including a fine collection of ancient coins: Phoenician, Punic, Roman and others. Once again, as at the Archaeological Museum in Valletta, you'll be struck by the quality of the works of art that prehistory produced on Gozo. A visit that's best made after a visit to the Ggantija complex.

When the sun is shining, they are a good stopover. Closed in 2009 for renovation, they were reopened in 2012 after an extensive rehabilitation plan, partly financed by European funds. Advantage: they are gardens in bloom all year round thanks to plants imported from several European countries. At the bend in the paths, small monuments and plaques, recalling the island's events, pay homage to local personalities. Twice a year (July 18 and August 15), horse, mule and donkey races are held here.

These bells are all displayed in a niche which is located in Mdina Door Street, the street that leads to the Craft Centre. There are five of them, neatly lined up in order of size. A small sign indicates the date of manufacture (1639 for the oldest), the name of the person who cast them, the notes they play(D, F, A, Dsharp, Asharp), their diameter (from 735 to 1,472 mm) and their weight (from 400 to 2,000 kilos).

These are the former prisons of the citadel, used between the ^16th century and 1904. In addition to the architecture typical of this type of place, you'll discover the inscriptions engraved on the walls by prisoners of different eras, including drawings of seagoing ships and handprints. It housed some notorious prisoners, including Jean Parisot de Valette, future Grand Master, who spent four months there in 1538 for assaulting a man.

Housed in a complex of three buildings dating back to the 1600s, once used as an inn and then as a refuge from aerial bombardment, it provides an insight into Gozo's natural resources and how they are used by the local people. The first floor features exhibitions on geology and minerals, with the geology section featuring marine organisms deposited between 35 and 5 million years BC. The upper floor is dedicated to the study of insects, flora and ecosystems of the Maltese islands, including Gozo in particular.

Nestled inside Gozo's Victoria citadel, this museum takes you back several centuries. It is located on the street named after Bernardo De Opuo, a Gozitan hero who, during the Turkish invasion of 1551, sacrificed his wife and children and fought to the death rather than be enslaved. The museum is housed in a group of interconnected ^15th-century houses, the only medieval houses of their kind in Gozo, with Sicilian-Norman windows on the façade. The complex of houses was restored in 1983 to house a museum. The ground floor and mezzanines of the house on the south side show the reconstruction of a historic house, with its working and living areas. The first floors of the whole complex are devoted to the rural environment, essentially agricultural. You'll also notice a spectacular cattle mill. On the second floor, you'll find furniture and tools related to local Gozo crafts, such as lace-making and weaving (including cotton gins and a spinning wheel). During your visit, you'll also find pottery, baker's, carpenter's and blacksmith's tools. There's also a very interesting collection of ex-votos, reflecting the piety of the period. All in all, there's everything to reflect the domestic atmosphere of an ^18th-century urban environment.