Gozo the island of hills is the name of the latest publication by Gozitan photographer Anthony Grech. This coffee-table book certainly will help visitors to Gozo become familiar with the island.

The hills of Gozo may be known to many Gozitans. However, it cannot be taken for granted that all the inhabitants of Gozo are able to distinguish between one and the other.

Some Gozitans would not even be able to identify the hills according to their names. In-Nuffara, Ta’ Għammar, Ta’ Ġordan, Ta’ Gelmus and id-Dabrani are perhaps the most renowned hills of Gozo; the names of some others are not familiar at all with the average Gozitan.

It would be a different story in the case of a professional hiker of cyclist; he or she would make it a point to know the name of every hill and valley in order to be able to plan a journey.

Perhaps I can say the same for Mr Grech who, for the past few years, has been going around Gozo and identfying each hill to be able to take photographs and then publish them in a book.

Gozo may be small, but it was quite an endeavour for our young photographer to visit all the places he managed to photograph.

The book is not merely a collection of magnificent photographs. At the beginning of every chapter readers will find a historical context of the places photographed. From Xagħra, Nadur, Żebbuġ and the Citadel, most probably being the main inhabited hills of the island, to the tiniest ħotba or small hillock, Gozo is certainly a magical place to visit, the ‘other extra mile’ worth visiting, as the familiar advertisment goes.

One only has to walk amid its green pastures in order to fall in love with Gozo and enjoy the clean, spring breeze carrying the scent of the island’s wild flowers and plants.

As to those who are interested in buying a copy of the book, they can do so by contacting the photographer on grech.anthony@gmail.com. I can assure them that they will not be disappointed.