The Gozo Album, an innovative digital platform designed to serve as a treasure trove of memories and historical tales from the island of Gozo, has been launched by Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri.

Ir was explained that the Gozo Album is not a simple online site, but a meticulous collection of over 1,500 historical photographs of Gozo, some of which date back to the 1800s.

The Minister said that “this ambitious project is the result of excellent collaboration between the Directorate for Cultural Heritage within the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, the Information Management Unit (the IT section of the Ministry), and the National Archives Section in Gozo.”

He added that “this website compares an extensive number of old photographs that have been collected over the past months with the same photographs that were taken this year from the same angles so that one can compare not only how situations and places have changed, but also show the progress that has been made and perhaps also the nostalgia for those who are older in how they remember certain places and spaces.”

He stressed that this is a very important project and that it must continue to grow even through the help of the public, especially those who have old photographs, in order to continue building this album about Gozo from the past.

Director for Cultural Heritage John Xuereb said that “through this project we will be able to enjoy not only Gozo as it was in the past but also compare it with Gozo as it is developing over time. For this purpose, a section in this album called ‘Then & Now’ has been launched. This is a unique project in the Maltese Islands that is strengthening the tangible and intangible heritage of our country.”

The Gozo Album offers a number of key features that make it an invaluable tool for exploring our history, including:

• Photo Book: A collection logically structured by location, decade, and theme, making it easy to find what you are looking for.

• Then & Now: This fascinating feature allows for direct comparison between how iconic places were in the past and how they have changed today, visually showing the evolution of the Gozitan landscape.

• Photographers Page: This page pays tribute to a number of historical photographers who dedicated their lives to capturing moments from the past, including Michele Farrugia known as ‘il-Badiku’, Richard Ellis, Salvatore Lorenzo Cassar, and Guido Stilon.

• Timeline Page: Here you can follow a chronological account of Gozo’s visual history. A notable example is that of the Dwejra Window, with the oldest photograph dated 1890 and another taken on 8 March 2017, the tragic day it collapsed.

• 1943 Aerial Photographs: Rare images showing Gozo during World War II, offering a unique perspective on that period.

• Detailed Photo Information: Each photograph in the collection is accompanied by detailed information, including dates or eras, the name of the photographer, and the exact location, allowing for exploration from multiple angles.

The Minister said that the Gozo Album is already being integrated with all Gozo Local Councils through an active widget system on their official websites, with pages dedicated to the visual heritage of each locality. In addition, the Ministry will soon be launching a plugin for WordPress, a tool that will allow the archive to be easily integrated on other websites such as those of schools, NGOs, and tourism entities, thus further disseminating this heritage.

“This project is intended to be a living archive, which is expected to grow continuously through contributions from the community,” he said. “The Ministry is eager that it will soon be possible for citizens to upload their own photographs and stories, thus contributing directly to the collective construction of this invaluable heritage.”

Minister for Gozo and Planning Clint Camilleri concluded by thanking everyone involved in this extensive work so that this Gozo album can be accessed by the entire public.

Photo: DOI

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