The Turkish fleet defeated in Birgu turned its sights to the poorly defended sister island of Gozo. The Ottomans bombarded the Citadel in the main city now known as Victoria until it capitulated on 26 July 1551. Nearly the entire population of 7000 Gozitans were captured and taken into slavery to North Africa and Constantinople. About 300 men escaped and a single monk and 40 elderly were left on the island. It took over a century to repopulate the island with settlers from Malta and Sicily.
Early in the morning I have the citadel to myself and spend a magic hour wandering the empty ramparts and narrow alleyways.
