By: Wilfred L. Camilleri

VIctoria is the capital city of Gozo. Its older name is Rabat and many people still refer to it by that name. The town i strategically placed near the geographic centre of the Island of Gozo, with all roads leading to and away from it. The town is built on a high point and the Citadel is built on a hill that is over five hundred feet above sea level, making it the second-highest spot in Gozo.

The town of Rabat can trace its origins back to the Norman period, although not much of the original buildings of that time remain. The old streets of Rabat are narrow and irregular. The town can be divided into two main areas, those being the old town and the Citadel.

The Old Town

The old town lies south of Republic Street and It-Tokk, a square that is the hub of the town. The streets are narrow and twist in all directions. There are some interesting architectural features in the old buildings that form this part of town. Just south of it-Tokk, one can find St George's square, with St. George's church at the south end of the square. St. George's is a Baroque church. It's a very nice church and it is lavishly decorated. The ceiling of the church was painted in the 1950s. There are a number of other churches and chapels in the old town section of Rabat. These include: St. Augistine Church, in the south-western area of the old town; St. Francis Church, located on St. Frnacis Square in the south-easter area of the old town; and St. Sabina, located on St. Sabina Square just east of it-Tokk.

The Citadel

The Citadel has its origins in the time of the Phoenicians, about 1,800 B.C. Surrounded by walls and fortifications, it provided refuge to the inhabitants of Rabat and other nearby villages in the event of raids on the island. Due to the frequent Turkish assaults on the island, up until 1637, inhabitants were required to sleep in The Citadel. People who actually owned a house in the Citadel were considered quite lucky in those days, for obvious reasons.

The passage of time, and earthquakes reduced many of the original houses to ruins. However, many still stand. The Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady and the Church of St. Ursula are prime examples of the architecture of days gone by. The Cathedral was built in 1697 and was designed by Lorenzo Gafa. Although rather plain, the Roman Baroque church is very graceful and well proportioned. The Cathedral does not have a dome, unusual on the Islands. In its place, there is a trompe l'oeil panel.

Ruins of streets, churches and palaces can be seen beyond the Cathedral. The views from the top of the high ramparts is spectacular. You can see the lush green valleys of Gozo below you against the backdrop of the blue Mediterranean Sea.

Another interesting building located within The Citadel is the Museum. This is the sole surviving Palace within the walls. It has an elaborately carved balcony and very interesting architectural features. Other buildings include the Bishop's Palace, built in 1620, and the Law Courts.

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