4 Best Sights in Malta

What was once a tiny chapel servicing an equally miniscule village found fame in 1883 when a local woman was said to hear the voice of the Virgin here. Pilgrims flocked to it, overwhelming the chapel, so a wealthy local man paid to build what is now Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary around it in the 1920s (the chapel still exists in part behind the altar, along with the tomb of the woman who heard the "miracle"). It's an impressive building, constructed in soft Maltese stone, which meant they could carve intricate Romanesque flourishes. Perhaps the most remarkable sight is the votive offerings in the rear, left by visitors who have experienced "miracles" of their own and who wish to thank the Virgin. From broken bicycle wheels to plaster casts, all manner of personal memorabilia is strewn across the walls, with written stories accompanying each and making for fascinating reading.

Xewkija's church is the biggest on Gozo, and reputedly has the one of the largest unsupported domes in the world—not bad for what has always been the poorest village on Gozo. It is said to weigh some 45,000 tons, and construction began in 1951 around the original village church, so locals would still have a place to worship. It wouldn't be consecrated until 1978, and parts of the old church still exist within, dismantled and rebuilt in a rear chamber. There is a fantastic photo display showing how the rotunda was built and just how daring it was (note the complete absence of safety equipment), while its marble floor and paintings are among the finest on Gozo. For just €3, you can go up in a lift to the rooftop to gaze out across the land—it's the best viewpoint on the island.