About this festa

Victoria, known in Maltese as Ir-Rabat, is the capital of Gozo and the island's commercial, cultural and religious centre. The hilltop Citadella fortress dominates the skyline, a medieval walled city that once housed the entire population of Gozo when pirate raids threatened the coast. Victoria celebrates two major festas: St George in July and Santa Marija in August. St George's Basilica in the main square is the centre of the July celebrations, while the August Santa Marija festa is one of the seven celebrated simultaneously across Malta and Gozo on the national public holiday. The Assumption of Our Lady is celebrated simultaneously in Victoria and six Malta villages on 15 August, the national public holiday of Santa Marija. In Gozo's capital, the celebration takes on an island-wide significance, drawing Gozitan emigrants home and visitors from Malta for one of the most atmospheric festa weekends in the archipelago.