DK Travel : Malta & Gozo : Dwejra, Gozo

Dwejra, Gozo

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The western tip of Gozo is savagely beautiful, with wild, wave-battered cliffs, dramatic rock formations and wind-whipped headlands. This stretch of coastline, known as Dwejra, is blessed with celebrated natural landmarks such as Fungus Rock and the stunning Azure Window – possibly the most photographed sight in Gozo. The area is considered one of the finest in the Mediterranean for diving and snorkelling, and the cliffs are etched with walking paths offering panoramic views. In summer the sea is a calm and perfect blue, but in winter huge waves dash dramatically against the cliffs.
Visit at dusk if possible; a Dwejra sunset is unforgettable. Bring a picnic to Dwejra – sources of refreshments are limited to the mobile snack vans. The area around Dwejra has no sandy beaches but several good sites for swimming, diving and snorkelling See Top 10 Diving and Snorkelling Sites

Top 10 Features

1. Dwejra Point

1. Dwejra Point

This mighty promontory is the most westerly point of Gozo’s dramatic coast. It is pierced by the Azure Window. Daring visitors walk out to the farthest tip for spectacular views – and sheer drops on either side.
2. Azure Window

2. Azure Window

This huge arch of rock nearly 100 m (328 ft) high is perhaps the most spectacular natural phenomenon in the Maltese islands.
3. Inland Sea

3. Inland Sea

This shallow lagoon is a popular spot for a swim, although it’s really more of a pond than a “sea”. Boats take visitors in through a passage in the rocks.
4. Fungus Rock

4. Fungus Rock

The strange, squat rock in Dwejra Bay gets its name from a rare plant, Cynomorium coccineum, that still grows copiously there. The Knights prized the “fungus” highly: anyone caught stealing it was sentenced to three years in the galleys. The rock remains out of bounds to this day.
5. Blue Hole

5. Blue Hole

The Blue Hole is another remarkable natural phenomenon close to the Azure Window: a chimney, about 10 m (33 ft) wide and 25 m (82 ft) long, which links the open sea with the Inland Sea through an underwater arch. It’s an extremely popular dive site.
6. Qawra Tower

6. Qawra Tower

This squat little tower was erected by the Knights in the 16th century to guard the precious “fungus” that covered Fungus Rock. A hoist was built to winch an official plant-gatherer across to the Rock, which was difficult to scale.
7. Dwejra Bay

The sweeping bay that curves around Fungus Rock is the best place for swimming as the shallow rocks offer easy access to the water. It’s also a popular yacht anchorage.
8. Chapel of St Anne

This simple little chapel overlooks the Inland Sea. Built in 1963 on the site of a much older church, it is rather dishevelled but important for local people.
9. Boat Trips

9. Boat Trips

Fishermen run trips from the Inland Sea to the Azure Window through a curious rift in the cliff. The journey is short but exhilarating.
10. Wildlife

Despite illegal hunting and trapping, the Dwejra cliffs remain an important bird breeding and nesting site. As well as the “Malta Fungus”, Fungus Rock is home to the rare Maltese wall lizard.