Gozo, Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean
Sea, just south of Sicily and 180 miles from the northern edge
of Africa. Gozo is one of five islands that make up the
Republic of Malta, which is a part of Europe and a newer
member of the European Union. The island of Malta itself
is one of the most densely populated pieces of land in the
world with 380,000 people living on 153 square miles, but Gozo
is a different story. Here, roughly 25,000 people live
on an island 9 miles long by 5 miles wide, and many of these
folks are European retirees.
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Ninety-eight percent of the population speaks English,
and it, along with Maltese, are the official languages,
which eliminates one of the biggest hurdles, learning a new
language, that expatriate retirees from the United States
often face when relocating to a foreign land. Italian
and French are also spoken.
Victoria is the capital city and has nearly any product
or service one might need. Many small villages are
within a few miles of this city hub, and out in the country,
ancient temples and green pastures make for a very pretty
landscape.
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Foreigners
can buy one piece of property for their own personal use and
for the use of their immediate family, but there are some
restrictions when buying real estate. To protect the
local market and local sellers, foreigners must pay at least
Lm 30,000 or roughly $88,000 USD for an apartment, even if
the selling price is actually lower, and pay at least
roughly $146,000 USD for a house, even if the selling price
is actually lower. These prices can, however, include
restoration costs.
"Homes with character" start in the
high-$200,000s (USD) and come, at this price, with two to
three bedrooms, two baths, a garage, usually a private
courtyard and 140 -150 or so sq. meters. Prices reach
into the millions and vary according to location (homes in
Victoria are generally higher than those in the smaller
towns). Apartments are plentiful and can be found
starting at around $100,000 USD for a one bedroom, one bath
flat with a garage, and, yes, a stunning Mediterranean view.
Visit www.maltahomes.net
for a good selection of Gozo homes.
The Republic of Malta has excellent health care (ranked
#5 in the world by the WHO, compared to the U.S.' ranking of
#37), and the health care system is a combination of clean,
modern, public and private facilities. Most doctors on
Malta and on Gozo train in the United Kingdom and are
considered top-notch. There is a small public
hospital, Craig Hospital (Tel: 21561600), in Gozo's capital
city of Victoria, and another small private day hospital as
well. Generally, health care is inexpensive and
expatriates pay for it as needed.
The summers are hot, dry and very sunny with occasional
cool breezes from the Mediterranean. Beach season can
last until the end of October. Winters are mild,
although an occasional wind from northern Europe can bring
chilly temperatures. The buildings are primarily built
from limestone and tend to keep the summer heat at bay;
during the winter months a small space heater may be needed
at night
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