From Ta’ Pinu to the Sand Waves
Sand Waves, Gozo
Right after Carnival we went on a little drive through Gozo, taking advantage of the little amount of tourists on the island. Our trip started and ended at Ta’ Pinu Basilica, taking us through Għarb to Wied il-Mielaħ, the Sand Waves and finally to Ġurdan Lighthouse. The route makes a nice circle and roads are surfaced with asphalt except for the coastal part.
Starting at Ta’ Pinu Basilica
We began at Ta’ Pinu, one of Gozo’s most famous churches. It is a large, beautiful building, standing alone in the countryside. People visit from all over to pray here mostly due to a story from 1883, when a local lady called Karmni Grima heard the voice of the Virgin Mary. Since then, many believe that miracles have happened here. Even if you’re not religious, it’s a peaceful place to visit and the architecture of the church combined with the landscape around it is definitely worth it.
Ta’ Pinu Cathedral
Għarb
From Ta’ Pinu we drove towards Għarb, a small and quiet village. The streets are narrow and the old stone houses give it a special charm. We stopped at a crossing and took a picture of a historic building with a classic red telephone box right next to it. It looked like a perfect mix of Maltese history and a little touch of British influence.
Intersection in Għarb
Wied il-Mielaħ
Our next stop was Wied il-Mielaħ where there is a natural rock arch reaching out into the sea. It’s a bit like the famous Azure Window that collapsed a few years ago, but this one fortunately is still standing. The area is quiet and people sometimes come to climb the rocks from the top down to the sea. If you make the effort to walk down the stairs, you can see the waves crashing against the cliffs.
Wied il-Mielaħ
From Wied il-Mielaħ we followed a road that runs along the cliffs. Since this road is rather a gravel path, driving needs a bit of care. You better don’t get a flat tyre here. Along the way we saw a big cave and a local fishing from the cliff.
Sand Waves
Eventually we reached the Sand Waves, one of Gozo’s hidden wonders. The limestone looks like frozen yellow waves, shaped by wind and rain over thousands of years. The patterns in the rock make it feel almost like another planet. We stopped to take some photos and the sunshine made the stone look golden. It’s a place that not many people visit, but it’s definitely worth the trip.
The Sand Waves are just a 200 metres walk away from our route
Ġurdan Lighthouse
From the Sand Waves, we made our way towards Ġurdan Lighthouse. Normally, you can drive all the way up, but the road was closed for construction. Instead, we had to walk up the hill through a field of cacti. It was a bit of a climb, but the view from the top was amazing. Standing by the lighthouse, we could see all over Gozo. It was so quiet and peaceful, a perfect break from everyday life in Malta.
View from Ġurdan Lighthouse towards Victoria
Back to Ta’ Pinu
From the lighthouse, we drove back to Ta’ Pinu, completing the circle. The whole trip took just three and a half hours, but it felt like we had seen many different sides of Gozo. It was the perfect way to spend a calm half day on the island.
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