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Gozo's Old Prison: A Glimpse into the Past

Explore Gozo's Old Prison: Step back in time and discover the stories etched in stone within the Citadel's historic walls.

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The Old Prison in Gozo's Citadel offers a unique glimpse into the island's history. Originally used by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, the prison features well-preserved cells and corridors adorned with historical graffiti, providing a tangible connection to the lives of past inmates.

A brief summary to Old Prison

Local tips

  • The Old Prison is located within the Citadel, also known as the Cittadella, in Victoria, Gozo. It is easily accessible by foot from the Victoria bus terminus.
  • Don't miss the graffiti on the walls, which include drawings of ships, handprints, and crosses etched by past prisoners.
  • A single ticket includes admission to the Old Prison, the Folklore Museum, the Gozo Museum of Archaeology, and the Natural Science Museum.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the Victoria Bus Terminus, walk towards the Citadel. Enter the Citadel through the main gate and follow the signs to Cathedral Square. The Old Prison is located adjacent to the Courts of Justice, overlooking Cathedral Square. The walk is approximately 8 minutes.

  • Public Transport

    Take any bus to the Victoria Bus Terminus in Gozo. From there, walk towards the Citadel, enter through the main gate, and follow the signs to Cathedral Square. The Old Prison is located adjacent to the Courts of Justice, overlooking the square. A single bus ticket costs €2.50 and is valid for two hours, allowing for transfers. Alternatively, a 7-day Explore Card costs €25 for unlimited travel.

  • Taxi

    From the Gozo Ferry Terminal (Mgarr), a taxi to the Old Prison in Victoria will take approximately 21 minutes. The taxi will drop you off near the Citadel entrance. Enter the Citadel through the main gate and follow the signs to Cathedral Square. The Old Prison is located adjacent to the Courts of Justice, overlooking the square. A short taxi ride from the Victoria Bus Terminus to the Old Prison will cost approximately €10-€15.

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Discover more about Old Prison

Located within the walls of the Cittadella in Victoria, Gozo, the Old Prison is the oldest surviving prison on the island. It stands adjacent to the Courts of Justice, to which it was originally connected. From the mid-16th century until the beginning of the 20th century, the prison was in use. The Knights of St. John used it to house their rowdy members. One of its most notorious inmates was Fra Jean Parisot de La Valette, who later became Grand Master of Malta and the founder of Valletta. He was imprisoned there for four months in 1538 after attacking a man. The prison complex is divided into two sections: an entrance hall and a free-standing block with six individual cells. The entrance hall served as a communal cell from the 19th century and now hosts an interpretative exhibition on graffiti in Gozo. The individual cells, overlooking a central courtyard and surrounded by a narrow corridor, still retain much of their original state. The massive low doors with their heavy locks are also original. An important feature of the Old Prison is the amount of graffiti with which the walls of the cells and corridors are covered. The graffiti depict sea vessels of different types and from different periods, handprints, Knights crosses, names, mathematical calculations, wind roses, flags, windmills, and other figures. These provide an intriguing glimpse into the conditions in which inmates were kept.

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