Green hills. Lush valleys. A glassy sea that’s never out of view. Gozo is a tiny, tranquil gem of an island, where rural life rules and tourists come to escape. It’s made up of just 13 villages circling the capital, Victoria. Gozo is not so much a land that time forget, but one it hasn’t got round to yet.

When you step off the ferry onto Gozo’s fertile soil, the leisurely pace of life and traditional values are tangible. Smaller than neighbouring Malta, this tiny isle is a delicious mix of rolling green hills, lush valleys and small sandy coves, dusted with a scattering of sleepy villages and soaked in shimmering sunshine.

Baroque churches and pretty squares in every village. Georgian facades and old farmhouses, flower pots and roof gardens. From tiny hamlets like St. Lawrenz and Gharb, to villages Sannat and Kercem, it’s like you’ve stepped into a painting

Gozo’s capital, Victoria, is an intriguing town whilst the former fishing village of Marsalforn is Gozo’s largest tourist resort. Xlendi Bay is less developed than Marsalforn but is known for its beauty, resting as it does at the end of a deep lush ravine. Indeed Gozo’s beauty has been immortalised by some of the greatest writers in the history of literature. Thought to be the legendary isle of Calypso, its mystical atmosphere and incredible beauty were captured by Homer in The Odyssey.

St Lawrenz is tiny, traditional and awaiting you with open arms. St. Lawrenz is a welcome rarity for people looking for a break that’s off the beaten track. Surrounded by three green hills – including Dbiegi, Gozo’s highest point – St. Lawrenz is a rural community that hasn’t lost its identity despite welcoming in the modern world.

Like most Gozitan towns, the church lies at the heart of things, a baroque beauty that lights up like Blackpool Tower whenever there’s something to celebrate. If you’re in town at festival time – early August – don’t miss out. Brass bands fill the air with music. People flock into the streets. And fireworks flood the sky with light. When you rent a holiday home in Gozo through ownersabroad.org, you deal directly with the owner, who is your best source of information for local attractions, restaurants, entertainment near your accommodation on Gozo. Local knowledge helps to make the most of villa holidays in Gozo.

Gharb is the quintessential town in a time warp. Gharb simply took one look at the rush and roar in the world around it and said no thanks. Travel to Gharb and follow in the footsteps of ancients – people lived here since Neolithic times. In fact, this is Gozo’s second oldest village. History whispers through every street. Elegantly engraved balconies front homes that are centuries old. The centre of town, the pretty Piazza Taz-Zjara Tal-Madonna, is surrounded on all sides by museums celebrating Gharb’s culture as well as the beautiful Baroque church.

Get to know Ghrab dining in its few farmhouse restaurants or visit its museums – the Folklore Museum and the homes of two local heroes now open to the public. Climb to the top of Dbiegi – Gozo’s highest point at 195 metres – and visit the craft village, complete with glass blowing and pottery. Ta’Pinu is an extraordinary shrine and sanctuary, pulling in pilgrims all year round. Take a moment to look through the tributes people have left behind – from motor cycle helmets to letters detailing miracles!

Sannat  is as far from the rat race as you can get. This is rural life in the raw, untouched by conventional tourism and unperturbed by the pace of modern life. In the south of Gozo, beside a stunning valley and behind breathtaking cliffs, Sannat is an escapist’s dream. Life in Sannat revolves around the square in front of the baroque Church of St. Margaret Martyr. If it’s happening, it happens here

Much about Kercem remains a mystery. No one knows where the name came from. Or quite what its flag means. But the biggest puzzle of all is why the town motto is ‘bent but not broken’. Sculpted balconies adorn the ancient houses. Flowerpots add splashes of colour to ochre hued streets. People settled here over 7000 years ago, so bits and pieces were forgotten along the way. The Ghar Gerduf catacombs are some of Malta’s oldest, complete with resident ghost – the White Lady, source of many a scary tale.

Today, Kercem is famous for its people. Their passion for culture makes the festivals they throw spectacular. The streets drip with fairylights. The baroque church is awash with decoration. Fireworks and music fill the square. Travel to Kercem and gorge yourself on real, rural Gozo.

Malta and Gozo lie like two little pieces of Britain in the warm Mediterranean.

One of the joys of these islands is that, no matter where you are, you’re never far from one of the many beaches or secluded little coves. Lush Green Malta is steeped in history. But Malta’s image is changing fast. It’s no longer the place of the George Cross.

These days you’re just as likely to hear about its film locations – the Hollywood epics Troy, Gladiator, Midnight Express and Alexander were all filmed on the island’s sunny shores – and top DJs are flocking to the island’s hotspots.

Its breathtaking beauty remains one of the key things that draws people back year after year. You can relax on the warm sands of Golden Bay, explore narrow cobblestone streets, and enjoy the views of the Mediterranean from St Julians. But history is never far away.

The tiny isle of Gozo is smaller than Malta and is a rich mix of rolling green hills, lush valleys and small sandy coves, with a scattering of small villages and soaked in shimmering sunshine. The capital, Victoria, is an intriguing town whilst the former fishing village of Marsalforn is Gozo’s largest tourist resort. Xlendi Bay is less developed than Marsalforn but is known for its beauty, situated at the end of a deep lush ravine.

Steeped in myth, Gozo is thought to be the legendary Calypso’s isle of Homer’s Odyssey – a peaceful, mystical backwater. Baroque churches and old stone farmhouses dot the countryside. Gozo’s rugged landscape and spectacular coastline also offer some of the Mediterranean’s best dive sites.

Luxury villas in Gozo for rent from Owners Direct. Apartments, houses, cottages in Gozo for rent from Owners Direct; holidays to Gozo and flights to Gozo.

Holiday rentals from owners in Gozo bookable safely on-line.