Stunning Qala Penthouse

The word Qala means "protected harbour" or "bay" in both Arabic and Maltese, and the coat of arms features a ship braving stormy waters. And Hondoq ir-Rummien, a picturesque, sheltered inlet along a shoreline with rock-cut saltpans, is a well-known natural jewel in Qala, renowned for the excellent scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities it provides in its caves. The remaining shoreline is mostly rocky, although it provides some great hikes with breathtaking panoramas of Comino and Malta. Look for the deep, parallel cart tracks that stretch for more than 180 meters here. These are some of the longest such tracks on the island of Gozo. There is a chapel overlooking Comino called Il-Madonna tal-Blat (Saint Mary of the Rocks).

Qala is surrounded by a number of noteworthy attractions, such as the islands' best preserved windmill and even some prehistoric ruins. There was a megalithic construction there, as evidenced by the lone menhir and pottery sherds. This structure dates to the Temple Period. In and around the hamlet, archaeologists have uncovered remnants of the Punic and Roman periods in sites like the Fuq l-Gherien, the Marga valley, and the region around the Immaculate Conception Chapel. Locals refer to the fortification on Gozo's eastern coast as It-Trunciera, but visitors will hear it referred to as Ras il-Qala of Saint Anthony's Battery. It was constructed by the Knights of the Order of St. John in 1732. The British dug fourteen bomb shelters across Qala during World War II.


Archaeological finds show that people had been living in the Qala area for a very long time. Modern Qala, however, didn't begin to take shape until the late 17th century. Qala was designated as a parish in 1872 and a church honoring Mary's Immaculate Conception was built there. The current Saint Joseph-dedicated Parish Church was constructed in 1889 and dedicated in 1904. On the first Sunday of August, the hamlet celebrates St. Joseph with a festa in his honor, and the streets are filled with wonderfully designed decorations and a great atmosphere of celebration. Moreover, Qala hosts the largest traditional folk festival in all of Malta.