Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541318
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 14 NOVEMBER 2025 NEWS capital bid rekindles a debate over identity the same principle. Rabat is within Victo- ria, but Victoria is larger and includes it. You find similar examples in Italy too, like San Miniato Alto and San Miniato Bas- so, or Bergamo Alta and Bergamo Bassa. Historically, Rabat simply meant the area around the old city." For Cilia, the idea that the name Victo- ria is a colonial remnant misunderstands Gozo's history. "Rabat came from the Ar- abic occupation," he said. "So, if someone wants to say Victoria is colonial because it's British, then Rabat is colonial because it's Arabic. Both are part of our history. We can't erase one part and keep the oth- er. Rabat is the heart of Victoria, but the two are inseparable." Cilia acknowledged that emotions can play a strong role in these debates. "The issue isn't the name itself, it's how people react to it emotionally," he said. "Some people online were criticising the use of 'Victoria' as if it were colonial propagan- da. But it's a historical fact. It's a name chosen by our own people to elevate the island's status." He also noted that the local council and official documents have long reflected the town's dual identity. "When they wrote the laws for local councils, they called it Victoria/Rabat, but that's not accurate," he said. "You can't just translate one into the other. Legally, the local council area is called Rabat in Maltese, but colloquially we all say Victoria. When we say Ġieħ il- Belt Victoria, that's correct. Translating Victoria into Maltese as if it meant 'victo- ry' would actually be wrong. It's a proper name referring to Queen Victoria, not a Maltese word." Cilia argued that while people are free to prefer one name over another, it's impor- tant to remember why the name Victoria was chosen. "It wasn't imposed," he said. "It was requested by our own represent- atives. The people who did that wanted Gozo to be seen as a city, as something greater. They couldn't have imagined that, more than a century later, we'd be debating whether that name was right or wrong." The debate has also highlighted in- consistencies in how the name is used officially. Cilia pointed out that some government systems don't even acknowl- edge Victoria. "On certain government websites, like the Planning Authority, you only find 'Rabat Malta' and 'Rabat Gozo.' It's as if Victoria doesn't exist," he said. "That's not correct historically or administratively. Victoria is the proper, legal name chosen by the Gozitans them- selves." For him, the question goes beyond se- mantics. It touches on how Gozitans view their own identity in relation to the island's history. "Victoria represents the ambition and pride of Gozitans who wanted to give their island its own city," he said. "It wasn't imposed by anyone. It was an expression of who they were." As Gozo moves forward in its European Capital of Culture bid, the conversation about the town's name has become a re- flection of how the island balances pride in its past with a vision for its future. Whether called Victoria or Rabat, the city remains the cultural heart of Gozo, a place shaped by centuries of history, faith, and community spirit. For Cilia, that unity matters more than the name itself. "Names carry history," he said. "Victoria and Rabat both belong to us. They tell our story. What's important is that we continue to celebrate who we are, whatever name we use." Within Victoria, locals made distinctions between small neighbourhoods like il- Belliegha, Rabat, Ta' Cawla, and Wied Sara among others Victoria, Gozo (Photo: James Bianchi)