SALVATUR HILL

Gozo is often referred to as the island of three hills, a nickname due to the fact that when you arrive from Sicily, you only see three, when in reality there are many more. The Tas-Salvatur hill is visible from the Victoria citadel, and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, reminiscent of the one on Rio de Janeiro's Corcovado, surrounds this rocky promontory with a number of legends and a strong spiritual appeal. According to some, black smoke rose from the top of the hill, suggesting the presence of a volcano, a rumour formally denied by geologists. According to others, God punished the inhabitants of Gozo and the island was swallowed by the waters before a ray of light escaped from this hill, hence its first name: Tas-Merzuq (light: merżuq). Most interesting is the statue of Christ the Redeemer(Salvatur), erected in 1904 to replace a wooden cross originally erected. The first statue didn't stand up to the elements and was replaced by another, struck by lightning in 1960... Imagine the shock for these very religious inhabitants. Pieces of the statue are still scattered across the small mountain. Now, a monumental reinforced concrete statue, modeled and molded by Gozitan artist Carmel Grech in 1979, stands atop the island, protecting all inhabitants from the elements... To get there, leave your car at the Malsaforn parking lot and follow the path. Some parts are quite steep and require good footwear.