<i>Veni, vidi, vici</i>

Veni, vidi, vici - I came, I saw, I conquered. The famously crispy words of Caesar on his victory over Pharnaces, King of Pontus, in 47 bc, were proclaimed by a countless number of conquerors throughout the centuries.

The same words must have been expressed by people from the four corners of the world who came to Gozo, saw the beauty of this Mediterranean island, and conquered parts of its territory to turn it into their home.

Nicholas Monsarrat, the famous British novelist, was won over by the island before he had even set foot on it. In his superb novel The Kappillan of Malta, he vividly remembers his first journey to Gozo. "It was a moment of rare beauty; in the clear morning air, the arc of the Maltese sky, flawless and innocent, might indeed have been the canopy of heaven."

When he toured the island he reached the conclusion that "it's exactly the sort of place that hundreds of people in the upper brackets are looking for, as a holiday spot, or even as a place to live. It's got peace, and sunshine, and a real chance to relax."

He eventually conquered part of the island by acquiring property and making the small village of San Lawrenz his permanent home. His prediction came to pass and, since then, thousands have followed in his footsteps.

The island continues to conquer by its uniqueness, especially in mid-August. One of the reasons is to celebrate of feast of Santa Marija. This month has in fact been synonymous with Gozo since time immemorial. Heavy ferry traffic from the Grand Harbour to Mgarr in Gozo is recorded as early as 1598.

A similar flow of traffic was evident during the past few days when thousands, in keeping with the tradition, crossed over to Gozo for the celebrations or for a well-earned rest.

The highlight at this time of the year remains the mid-August national feast of Santa Marija celebrated at the Cathedral Church within the Citadel and in the main squares and streets of Victoria.

Since the Middle Ages, the feast occasioned two other important activities that have withstood the test of time. The first is it-Tigrija, the famous horse, mare, pony, and donkey races organised along the hill that lead to the Citadel walls. Held along the same track next Wednesday, the race "tests a weary animal to the limit of its endurance", observed Monsarrat. It is certainly not easy battling uphill on hot tarmac in the sizzling heat of an August afternoon.

Another crowd-puller, revamped in the past years, is the Wirja ta' Santa Marija, whose origins go back to the beginning of the 18th century. Under government auspices since 1855, the Agricultural and Crafts Exhibition is held at Villa Rundle. Il-Wirja brings together the best products of the fields and farms of Gozo.

The exhibition runs from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning, when a number of farm animals will also be on show. The President will distribute prizes to the top exhibitors late on Wednesday morning.

The climax of the feast is reached on Wednesday. In the evening, the procession with the statue of Our Lady moves from the Cathedral along the streets of Rabat. It makes its way back inside the Cathedral under a canopy generated by a five-star aerial fireworks spectacle that kicks off at 8 p.m.

The Gozo Newsletter extends a warm welcome to the thousands of visitors hoping that they too will be conquered by the gorgeousness of our island.