Places of Interest

San Lawrenz is graced with having some of the best scenery on Gozo these are all found in Dwerja bay namely Fungus Rock, the inland sea and Azure Window. There is also an old Tower dating back to the Knights of St John.

 

The name of this bay, Dwejra Bay, is derived from a small house which was built on the cliffs surrounding the inland sea.

 

The bay has rare geological features, both on land and undrer the sea, rich and diverse wildlife and habitats, dramatic seascapes dominated by a rocky shoreline and a general wilderness feel. Dwejra is renowned both for it interesting geology and also for its fascinating underwater scenery.

 

From Dwejra one could also enjoy the wonderful scene of the sunset.

 

 

The Inland Sea known as Il-Qawra by the locals, constitutes the lowest spot of Gozo. The Inland Sea is an expanse of shallow water set in a deep recess in the rock coastline produced by the caving in of the surface above subterranean caves.

 

The pool is connected to the outside sea by means of a narrow, sixty metre-long tunnel the cliffs. This only entrance for this pebbly lake is called Ghar iz-Zerqa (Blue Cave) because of the colour of the sea within and around it.

 

With small fishing boats you can travel out to the sea through the tunnel and visit Fungus Rock, where Medieval knights grew medicinal plants,

 

The Dwejra tower was built during the reign of Grand Master Anton de Paule in 1651 but was completed during the reign of Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris de Castellar a year later.

 

After 1744, apart from spying ot Turkish raiders, Dwejra Tower acquired another function that of guarding the Hagret il-General and the supposed medicinal fungus that grew on it.

 

After 1873 the tower ceased to act as a coast guard and was deserted.

 

The pair of cart ruts in the Dwejra area climb all the way up from behnd the chapel dedicated to Saint Anne to the towering cliffs north of the Inland Sea. The purpose of these cart ruts are still unclear.

These cart-ruts are one of the most enigmatic archaeological features due to an unexplainable two metres drop and to the fact that they start and terminate in a mysterious way.

 

The historic and scientific importance given to Dwejra Bay is mainly due to a 65 metres high megalithic rock named Hagret il-General or Fungus Rock.

 

The name is derived from a commander of a squadron of galleys, belonging to the Order of St. John, who discovered a plant which is locally known as Gherq is-Sinjur.

 

In 1992, this rock was declared a nature reserve and it is prohibited to climb upon it without due permission, which is granted only for educational and scientific purposes.

 

All the processes which have acted on the land in these years have produced diverse geological and geomorphological structures. The Dwejra area is one of them.

 

The Dwejra area is made up of marine tertiary sedimentary rocks deposited around 24 million years ago. In this area one finds Globigerina limestone, lower Coraline limestone and even some blue clay.

 

The lower Coraline limestone is mainly exposed in the sheer cliffs on the coastline and also in the crust of the inland sea. The blue clay in this area is composed of meduim grey and soft pelagic marls, with pale bands rich n planktonic farominfera but lower in clay content.

 

The Gobigerina limestone found in ths area is mostly of the lower type. This is a white weathering grey marly limestone which supports numerous nodules. The Globigerina limestone is widely used in the building industry. In fact in Gozo there are nine major soft stone quarries and all of these are located in the Dwejra area.

 

The Qawra subsidence structure is the largest of the recorded solution subsidence structures. It is almost circular and has a diameter of more than 400 metres. Because of the fact that Qawra area is an encolosed sea, the presence of rock fragments clearly indicates that the Qawra area was totally different in the past and also experienced diferent geomorphological processes. The rocs in the Dwera area are packed with fossils: the actual remains of plants and fish buried and preservedin sedimentary rock by natural process..

 

A lot of research has been conducted on the processes which led to the formation of Dwejra area and the region still fascinates geologists, who try to come to more clear conclusions.

 

Dwejra attracts diving tourism due to various characteristics both above and below the surface of the sea. Divers can explore the underwater caverns and admire the very interesting marine fauna in the crystal-clear waters.

 

Fovourite locations with divers in Dwejra are the Hofra tal-Bedwin or the Blue Hole which is a very deep hole in the seabed just in front of the Azure Window, the Coral Cave situated a short distance away from the Fungus Rock, and the area near Fungus Rock where divers can encounter an interesting variety of marine life and explore the cliff walls, small caves, and two plateaux.

 

Dwejra Bay has often been chosen as a filming site by producers and directors for internationally renowned and famous films.

 

Some films which were produced in Dwejra Bay are: Single Handed (early fiftees), Clash of the Titans (1979), Actor lll (1985).

 

Other films which have some of their scenes shot in Dwejra Bay are: Among Wolves (1985), Christopher Columbus – The Discovery (1992), The Odyssey (1997).

 

Scenes in Dwejra Bay were also used for documentaries such as: Non Solo Moda, The First Eden – The Mediterranean World of Man and another documentary made by the England-Thames T.V.