The public are being invited to step back in time and dive beneath the surface – virtually – during an event taking place at the Xlendi Tower in Gozo.

Organised by the Munxar Local Council, in collaboration with Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit, the historical Xlendi Tower will once again open its doors to the public for a special open weekend – 16th and 17th of August – on Gozo’s scenic south-west coast.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the tower’s rich cultural history and enjoy panoramic views of Xlendi Bay, before discovering a hidden underwater world.

This year’s event features an immersive Virtual Reality experience, offering a virtual dive into the Xlendi Underwater Archaeological Park and the Phoenician Shipwreck. Inside the tower, there will also be a display of underwater artefacts, offering insight into centuries of maritime history that lie beneath Gozo’s clear waters.

The seabed of Xlendi is a testament to the millennia of human activity around the Maltese Islands. Hidden beneath the azure waves off Ras il-Wardija is a remarkable archaeological site- the Phoenician shipwreck, dating back to the 7th century BC.

Just beneath the Xlendi Tower lies the world’s first Deep water underwater archaeological park, opened to the diving public in 2023.Heritage Malta said that the Xlendi Underwater Archaeological Park is proudly sponsored by the Malta Airport Foundation.

The Xlendi Tower will be open between 09:00-12:00 and then 13:30-16:00 on both days. Entrance is free for all visitors and no pre-booking is required.

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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