Victoria Citadel

A fortress crowning Gozo

The Citadel, known in Maltese as the Cittadella, is the heart of Victoria, Gozo's capital. This hilltop fortress has been inhabited almost continuously since the Bronze Age, around 1500 BC. For centuries it was the island's only refuge from pirates and corsairs.

The great raid of 1551

On 18 July 1551, an Ottoman fleet under Sinan Pasha and the corsair Turgut Reis attacked Gozo. Residents retreated to the Citadel, but after a brief siege it fell. The Ottomans enslaved approximately 5,000 people, nearly the entire population. Gozo remained virtually depopulated for years. This traumatic event permanently altered the island's history.

Rebuilt under the Knights of Malta

After the raid, the Knights of Malta reinforced the Citadel with stronger bastions. The Baroque Cathedral of the Assumption was built in 1697, replacing an earlier church. Curiously, the cathedral has no real dome. Instead, artists painted a trompe-l'oeil optical illusion on the ceiling that looks like a genuine dome from inside.

Panorama and museums

The Citadel walls offer the finest panorama on Gozo, encompassing the entire island across to Comino and Malta. Inside you will find four museums, including the Archaeological Museum and the Old Prison with authentic prisoners' graffiti from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Practical tip: Walk the ramparts at sunset. The view across the whole island bathed in golden light is unforgettable. Access to the walls and cathedral is free.