Ramla Bay (Ramla l-Ħamra) — Gozo

What is Ramla Bay?

Ramla Bay is a broad sandy beach on the northern coast of Gozo, celebrated for the unusual reddish-gold colour of its sand. Backed by farmland and low hills rather than hotels, it is the largest and most natural sandy beach on the island.

Where is Ramla Bay?

The bay lies below the villages of Xagħra and Nadur, reached by winding country roads. Above it, on the Xagħra side, is the viewpoint known as Calypso's Cave.

History and nature

The beach has been valued since antiquity: beneath the sand lie the remains of a Roman villa, and the bay has long been a landing place. Its reddish sand and the dune and wetland habitats behind it are ecologically important and protected. By local tradition, the cave in the cliffs above is the cave of Calypso from Homer's Odyssey, where the nymph is said to have kept Odysseus.

What to see at Ramla Bay

• The distinctive red-gold sand and clear, shallow water.
• The view down over the bay from Calypso's Cave.
• The protected dunes and natural surroundings.
• A statue of the Madonna set in the bay, a local landmark.

Significance

Ramla is the finest natural beach on Gozo and a symbol of the island's quieter, greener character. Its combination of archaeology, legend and unspoilt landscape sets it apart from the more developed resorts of Malta.

Visiting Ramla Bay

The beach is free and has some seasonal kiosks and sunbed hire in summer, but few permanent facilities. The protected dunes behind the beach should not be disturbed. Public transport and parking are limited, so it is quietest outside peak times.