🗓️ June 23, 2024
📍 Victoria (Rabat), Gozo, Malta
Gozo, Malta’s serene sister island, holds many quiet treasures—and at its heart lies the city of Victoria. Also known by its older name, Rabat, this hilltop town invites you into a slower rhythm of life, with golden stone architecture, sun-drenched alleys, and a strong sense of history.
On a hot June day, I set out to explore the city, and what I found was a mix of silence, shadow, and sound—from the stillness of thick cathedral walls to the timeless clang of bronze bells overhead.
Cathedral Square: Where History Echoes
The centerpiece of Victoria is the Cathedral of the Assumption, perched at the top of the Citadel. Its grand steps rise from a wide, sunlit square that feels like a stage—people resting in the shade, sketching, chatting, or quietly admiring the view. The creamy limestone façade glows in the midday sun, and statues seem to guard the entrance like silent storytellers.
Inside the bell tower, I found a moment of wonder—massive bronze bells, hanging with quiet strength. Their size and weight contrast with the breezy openness of the city below. Time pauses up here, where sound is born but not yet heard.
The Citadel Walls: Looking Outward, Feeling Grounded
Walking along the fortification walls of the Citadel, I was struck by the wide views over Gozo’s countryside. From this height, you can see scattered villages, terraced fields, and the far-off shimmer of the sea. But the beauty isn’t just in the landscape—it’s in the texture of the stone, the curves of the bastions, and the play of shadows in narrow stairways.
There’s a peaceful weight to these places, as if the stones themselves remember every century.
Street Life: Gozo’s Quiet Pulse
Leaving the Citadel, I wandered the streets of Victoria. The city outside the fortress is full of quiet charm—balconied homes, vintage storefronts, and the occasional unexpected moment. Like a dog in the back of a pickup truck, calmly riding past as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
These everyday scenes, so different from my own, are what stay with me long after a trip ends.
Reflections
Victoria is small, but not simple. It carries centuries of faith, community, and resilience within its walls. And yet, it feels personal—walkable, photographable, and open to quiet moments.
As I left the city, I realized: this wasn’t just a visit. It was a conversation—with stone, sun, and silence.