The island where you are guaranteed 22C winter sun | Travel news

With weather maps predicting sweltering conditions in the coming weeks, many may be looking to sunnier pastures for a getaway.

One such region promises temperatures of 22 degrees Celsius and can be found along the glittering Mediterranean Sea.

Offering serene scenery all around, this island is also known for its beauty as it is called an incredible coastal destination.

Gozo is the the second largest of the Maltese islands in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Sicily. It is home to fascinating temples, dramatically colored sands and an array of activities. including snorkeling and kayaking.

The island is also home to some of the most beautiful natural sights and with the perfect blue tones of the water and the hospitable locals, Gozo deserves a spot on your next sunny holiday.

Gozo is more of a rural place with a population of around 31,000, making it much less crowded than many other Mediterranean regions.

The area around Gozo was put on the map after becoming one of the top diving destinations in the world, with an impressive five of the most popular dive sites on the island.

Gozo’s beaches are ideal for families and children to swim in, with warm temperatures thanks to the azure blue Mediterranean Sea.

Attractions and plenty in this region, including the towering structure of the Basilica of the Virgin of Ta’ Pinu, a beautiful church with an abundance of sculptures and crafts made from Maltese stone.

The awe-inspiring waters of Dwejra Bay is another popular hotspot with shallow waters extending to a picture-perfect 60-metre-long cave where tourists and locals flock to the water for sunbathing, swimming and kayaking.

Other must-see attractions in Gozo include the Gozo Cittadella which dates back to the Middle Ages, the Villa Rundle Gardens and the Tal-Massar Winery, to name a few.

The Ggantija Temple is an important archaeological monument in Gozo and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with enormous slabs of limestone measuring over 5 meters in length and weighing as much as 50 tonnes.

It would be sacrilege not to try Gozo’s popular stuff, at tal-fenek, Malta’s national dish.

The meal consists of slow-cooked rabbit in a stew of tomatoes, red wine, garlic and various other seasonings, a process that produces tender meat that falls off the bone.

Other popular dishes worth tasting are eggplants stuffed with meat and fried, known as Brungiel Mimli, spaghetti Matli, chocolate and cherries, known as Kannoli, or meat and potatoes with onion gravy, known as Pal fil-Forn.

Gozitan cheese is another must that is usually made from sheep’s milk and served as small, round mini cheeses and is also used to fill homemade ravioli and pastizzi.

As there are no airports on Gozo, Gozo is only accessible by boat or the Gozo Channel ferry from Malta. London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Stansted and Manchester all offer flights to Malta, taking around 3.5 hours.