The promenade
Restaurants facing green-turquoise water.
Berthold Werner — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ramessos — Public domain · Berthold Werner — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wusel007 — CC BY-SA 3.0 · VillageHero from Ulm, Germany — CC BY-SA 2.0
Xlendi Bay is a narrow inlet in southwest Gozo, with a small village of restaurants and hotels at its head and high rock cliffs on either side. One of the liveliest spots on the island, it combines a little beach, a seafront promenade and the dramatic end of a valley meeting the sea. The name is said to be Byzantine, derived from a galley, the Shilandi, wrecked near the mouth of the bay and rediscovered in the 1960s, its wreck now a dive site. Punic and Byzantine tombs have been found here, and the Romans used the port for shelter from the wind. A reef in the bay caused shipwrecks that left Roman amphorae on the seabed. Guarding the entrance is Xlendi Tower, built by Grand Master Lascaris in 1650 against pirates and Ottoman raids. You walk along the quay past restaurants and colourful buildings, looking at green-turquoise water between the cliffs. A stairway climbs the cliff towards the tower, and on the other side Xlendi Valley cuts inland with an old stone bridge. In the evening restaurant lights play on the water, a different mood from daytime. The bay lies about 2.9 km from Victoria and 3.5 km from the Inland Sea in a straight line. The beach is small and crowded in summer, and swimming near boats calls for attention. The stairs towards the tower are narrow and slippery, so wear good shoes, and do not dive in unfamiliar spots without a guide.
Restaurants facing green-turquoise water.
A watchtower at the bay's mouth.
A valley with an old stone bridge.
Xlendi, southwest Gozo, Malta
Yes, though the beach is small and busy in summer, so watch for boats.
You can reach its area by the stairs, but check its state, as it has been under restoration.