Tal-Mixta Cave offers stunning panoramic views over Ramla Bay in Gozo. This hidden gem combines natural beauty with historical significance, making it a must-visit spot for both hikers and photographers.
You can find Tal-Mixta Cave by either climbing up from Ramla Bay, or taking the easy route by following Google Maps through the outskirts of the village of Nadur.
In case you opt to take the way from Nadur, be aware that this road, traversing northwards over the plateau, is narrow and a little bumpy. However, any car should make it with no problem. Once you reach the end of this road, park your car and walk about 5 minutes to the entrance of this remote cave. At the entrance, there will be a descending staircase, a tunnel and a series of steps hewn through the rock, that will take you to the cave.
Yes! Visiting this cave is one of the many rewarding things to do in Gozo on Holiday the magical view, your effort is well worth it. The wide crevice of Tal-Mixta Cave acts as a window for a breathtaking view of Ramla Valley and Ramla Bay below. This popular bright-red sandy bay is by far Gozo’s widest and most famous beach.
The Cave gets its name from the word ‘Mixta’ which is derived from the Maltese word ‘Mxett‘, meaning ‘a place where one shelters in winter together with the cattle’.
Tal-Mixta Cave is one of the last intact troglodytic abodes in Gozo. Troglodytic refers to a prehistoric race of people that lived in caves, dens, or holes.
It must have been inhabited from early times till the early twentieth century.
This large cave was used as shelter for cattle and even the peasants used to live in it to look after their herds.
On July 7, 1733, two Muslim vessels dropped anchor in Ramla l-Hamra and their crew ravaged the valley in search of supplies, taking a Gozitan family of eight captive. The vulnerability of the bay thus became evident and steps were immediately taken by the Knights of St John to rectify the problem.
A wall made of rough stones was built below the water surface right across the width of the bay, which can still be clearly seen on the photo below.
A fougasse was excavated and an entrenchment wall constructed. Part of the latter incorporated Tal-Mixta Cave, which, apart from being sheltered, could not be seen from the open seas because its mouth overlooked the beach.
In 1743 the opening of the cave was blocked with stones and they left only two openings for cannons to fire against enemy’s ships.
Thus, two small openings were pierced through the sea-facing flank to accommodate cannon.
It is said that within the cave there once existed a concealed staircase accessing the entrenchment wall and fougasse below.
