Gozo Citadel.

The Citadel of Gozo

The Citadel, known in Maltese as Iċ-Ċittadella and also as Il-Kastell, is the ancient fortified heart of Victoria, Gozo. Rising on a prominent hill above the town, its walls have dominated the island's landscape for centuries.

The site has been occupied since prehistoric times and developed through successive periods of Gozan history. Archaeological evidence points to settlement during the Bronze Age, while the hill later became an important Phoenician, Punic and Roman centre.

The Citadel that visitors see today is largely the result of successive medieval and early modern fortifications, particularly the rebuilding carried out by the Knights of St John in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

A Fortified Heart of Gozo

The Citadel occupies a naturally strong position overlooking Victoria and much of the island. Its elevated position made it an important place from which to observe the surrounding countryside and approaches to Gozo.

During the medieval period the fortified settlement provided protection for the population during times of danger. The Citadel became particularly important during the period of Ottoman and corsair attacks, when the inhabitants of Gozo sought refuge behind its walls.

The most devastating episode came in 1551, when an Ottoman force captured Gozo after a short siege. The population suffered enormously and much of the island was devastated. The rebuilding of the Citadel that followed helped create much of the fortified appearance visible today.

The southern fortifications were substantially reconstructed by the Knights of St John between 1599 and 1603. The Citadel remained the principal fortified refuge of Gozo until the island's defensive needs changed in the modern period.

Inside the Citadel

Walking through the entrance and along the narrow streets reveals a remarkable concentration of historic buildings and monuments.

Gozo Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Assumption dominates Cathedral Square and is one of the most important buildings within the Citadel.

Explore Gozo Cathedral →

Historic Buildings & Museums

The Citadel contains several museums and historic sites, including the Gozo Museum of Archaeology, the Old Prison, the Gran Castello Historic House, the Gozo Nature Museum and other historic military structures.

These buildings help explain the archaeological, domestic, military and religious history of Gozo.

The Fortifications

The bastions, walls and defensive structures are among the most impressive features of the Citadel. Walking the ramparts gives visitors an opportunity to understand the strategic importance of the site as well as its relationship with the surrounding island.