It-Tokk

Landmark

Landmark · Victoria, Malta 36.0448°N 14.2392°E

Why you should go

Ninety seconds on It-Tokk

Time needed

15 to 30 minutesLonger with a cafe stop

Effort

Short, steep climbUp to the Cittadella

Access

Bus or carBus 301 from Mġarr

The name

Why is the square called It-Tokk?

It-Tokk means the meeting point in Maltese, and Victoria uses it as the everyday name for its main square. Its formal name is Pjazza Indipendenza, which translates as Independence Square.

Market

Is there a daily market at It-Tokk?

The morning open market is held at Savina Square, a short walk up from It-Tokk, so one morning walk can take in both squares. Days and hours are best checked locally before a visit.

Feasts

When are Victoria's two main feasts?

St George's feast runs in the week before the third Sunday of July, and the Feast of the Assumption in the week before 15 August. St George's Basilica, the church of the first, stands just behind It-Tokk.

Steep and short, the climb to the bastions on the hilltop starts from this main square in Gozo's capital, and so does the loop into the old town. Both walks bring you back down here afterwards to sit at a table.

What makes it special

It-Tokk is the centre of Victoria. Its official name is Pjazza Indipendenza, or Independence Square, but road signs use the older name. Numerous open-air cafes fill the square.

The building that dominates the square is the Banca Giuratale, built between 1733 and 1738 and once the seat of Gozo's municipal government. Today the building houses the Victoria Local Council.

St George's Basilica stands in a smaller square just behind, in the heart of the old town. The fortified hill of the Cittadella rises immediately behind It-Tokk as well, which makes the square the starting point for the walk up to the bastions and the panoramic view over Gozo from the top.

Visiting

Victoria's Bus Terminus and main car park are just off Republic Street, south of the centre. From there, walk up Republic Street until it reaches the square.

For the hilltop, turn right out of the square up It-Telgħa tal-Belt. The walk is short but steep, and the entrance to the walled town is five minutes uphill.

For the old town, cross It-Tokk to the basilica's square and carry on from there. Either walk brings you back down to It-Tokk, so a table at one of its cafes makes a natural break before or after.