The New Attraction on Gozo | The Controversial 8-Legged Horse of Xwejni

It happened, we have a new attraction on Gozo. In April 2026 a huge sculpture was placed directly at the Salt Pans in Xwejni. Why? Nobody really knows yet, but it stands out. It is loud. It is different. At first glance it disturbs the landscape. It does not belong here. It divides the island into two opinions. And thus lives up to its artistic character. Because that is exactly how polarizing real art is.

But what is the background, and what was the idea behind it? Why does a sculpture suddenly stand at the Salt Pans in Gozo, showing two horses intertwined? Without a head. With eight legs.

With the following post, I want to encourage you to put this curious sculpture on your agenda when visiting Gozo. I would, of course, be very happy about a comment below the post. What do you think of the sculpture? Is it an enrichment or more of a deterrent? Let's go...

WIEĦED Gozo | Facts and Figures about the Eight-Legged Horse

If you are already on a sightseeing tour in Gozo, I of course want to give you some data and facts about the sculpture, as it is currently not labelled (as of April 2026). Here are the most important key facts about the new attraction on Gozo:

• Height: 570 centimeters
• Material: Bronze, with anchoring made of stainless steel (AISI 316L)
• Feature: eight legs, no head, balanced on only two contact points
• Location: Ras ir-Reqqa at Xwejni, on Triq is-Sagħtrija, near the Salt Pans
• Protection status of the site: Natura 2000 area, outside the building zone
• Client: Ministry for Gozo
• Costs: over 200,000 euros from public funds
• Selection: one of four works from a public art competition in 2021, commissioned in 2023, installed in 2025

So it is called WIEĦED, which means "One" in Maltese. It was created by the Gozitan artist Austin Camilleri. He has been known on Malta for quite some time. He apparently also placed a curious horse called Żieme in Valletta. On my next visit to the capital I will take a picture of it.

The Idea Behind It | What the Artist Wants to Tell

The artist Austin Camilleri was born in 1972 in Victoria on Gozo. I only heard of him now, but he may well have a name in the art scene. I am more of an art philistine myself. 😄 He has had exhibitions in Venice, the Vatican and also in the UN building in New York, among others. That is quite an achievement for a Gozitan.

In an interview with several Maltese newspapers, he reveals in detail what the sculpture in Xwejni is all about. Eight legs, no head, no rider. That is unsettling at first. Anyone who has classical equestrian statues from European capitals in mind will search here in vain for heroic pose, pedestal and inscription. That is exactly the point, says the artist.

He understands WIEĦED, the new attraction on Gozo, as a playful engagement with the tradition of the equestrian monument. Instead of casting a commander in bronze, he has broken down the form. What looks like a horse is actually not one. They are two half-horses, without a head. =) But he wanted to create "One" from it. A figure composed of ambiguity.

Why in Xwejni and at the Salt Pans?

The sculpture did not end up at this spot by chance. Camilleri deliberately matched the form to the location. The curve of the legs follows the line of the coastline, and the sculpture responds to the Billinghurst Cave, which lies directly in the rock below the cliff edge. Anyone who sees the sculpture therefore also sees a piece of invisible geology. That is subtle and does not reveal itself at first glance, but it is part of the concept. It did not reveal itself to me on the 17th glance either. But I am curious to see how this develops over the coming weeks.

The bronze is intentionally left unsealed. It is meant to develop a patina, to be altered by the salty air, and to grow into the rocky landscape over the years. Patina is that greenish layer you know from church roofs. Camilleri compares this to the coastal towers of Malta, which eventually became a natural part of the cliffs. Whether it will actually look like that in ten or fifty years remains to be seen.

Why There is Controversy | Three Lines of Conflict

Yes, a new attraction on Gozo is not always welcomed equally by everyone. I did a little research, as the forums and groups are full of mostly negative comments. What is actually behind this? There are in fact three different reasons:

1. Nature Conservation
   The location is in the middle of a Natura 2000 area, meaning a habitat that is specially protected under EU law. Both the Maltese environmental authority ERA and the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage spoke out against the project. The ERA described the proposal as "out of context and incompatible with the unspoiled coastal landscape" and recommended rejection. The planning authority approved the project nonetheless. BirdLife Malta had also filed an objection and stands by it to this day. Executive Director Mark Sultana argues that as many areas as possible should remain entirely free of human intervention, no matter how aesthetic that intervention may appear.
   
2. Aesthetics
   Opinions are divided here. Online I read comments like "eyesore" or "I can make neither head nor tail of it". Environmental activist Sasha Vella called the sculpture an "eyesore" and received a lot of agreement for it. On the other side, artist and former Manoel Theatre Director Kenneth Zammit Tabona defends the work. His argument in a nutshell: art does not have to "match the curtains". The very fact that the sculpture irritates is a value in itself, because it forces people to question their expectations of art in public spaces.
   
3. Location
   Even those who can live with the form and material often stumble over the question: why here of all places? Xwejni is one of the most unspoiled stretches of the Gozitan coastline. Salt pans, cliffs, wind, silence. Camilleri justifies the choice pragmatically. The location is close to the road, which allows access without new paths or lighting and thus ensures minimal intervention. Critics counter that this very proximity to the road turns a quiet natural space into a photo stop destination and permanently changes the character of the place. The sculpture can be dismantled, but the impression in the collective image of the place less easily.

Three lines of conflict that cannot be cleanly separated. Those who reject the sculpture rarely do so for just one reason.

My Honest Impression on Site

What do I think of our new attraction on Gozo? I want to address exactly the three points mentioned above and write my opinion on them. Because I walk past this sculpture four to five times a week and have witnessed how it was installed.

1. Nature Conservation
   To be honest I cannot say much about this. I do not want to interfere here, as others are far more knowledgeable on the subject. My criticism at this point is the additional visitors who will be gathering here. There are no bins placed there so far. This will mean that additional litter will accumulate here. Even if it is just a brief photo stop.
   
2. Aesthetics
   Honestly I find the sculpture very irritating. It is art, so everyone is free to interpret whatever they want into it. But two horses without a head, carelessly stuck together, for 200,000 EUR? More effort could have been put in here. Perhaps also thematically it could have been adapted more to Gozo. For me there are far more relevant symbols and themes for Gozo than headless horses. I could imagine for example further along at the Salt Pans a large sculpture showing a man carrying a beam over his shoulders with two salt baskets hanging from it.
   
3. Location
   With the artist's reasoning, I do not find the location question all that dramatic. Yes, at first glance, there are far better places on Gozo. There is an art school where such an artwork would look beautiful in the front garden. I also feel that the material bronze does not match the limestone, the sandstone that characterises the area around the Salt Pans. That is, of course, a matter of taste. It was previously a natural spot with an unobstructed view of the sea.

In the end it is like everything else. It is a matter of getting used to it. Time will tell whether the sculpture WIEĦED will continue to be perceived as disruptive on Gozo. I got used to it after the first week already, even though you can really see it from very far away. We can even see it from our terrace. So there is no escaping it.

Getting There | How to Find WIEĦED Gozo

If you want to form your own impression of the new attraction on Gozo, that is easy. The sculpture stands freely accessible on the coast, has no entry fee and can be perfectly incorporated into a hike along the northern coast of Gozo.

Directions

From Marsalforn, you drive about 5-10 minutes westward along the coastal road. The route leads towards Xwejni Bay and further to the Salt Pans. From Victoria, the capital of Gozo, you need approximately 15 minutes, depending on traffic. You can either drive via Marsalforn or via Zebbug. I recommend the route via Zebbug as the view from up there is great. Simply follow the signs for "Salt Pans".

Parking

Best park directly on Triq is-Sagħtrija, the narrow coastal road that runs past the Salt Pans. There are no marked parking spaces there, but enough parking options on the roadside. In high season, it can get busy here, as divers are also active in the area.

Hike / Walk

A trip solely for the sculpture Wiehed Gozo is only partly worth it. It is much nicer if you plan a hike along the coast. You can for example start from Wied il-Ghasri or even from Wied il-Mielaħ. Then head east along the coastal road and you will automatically pass the sculpture. You can also comfortably start the hike using public transport in Marsalforn. From there it is about 4 km to walk to the sculpture.

Best Time of Day to Visit Wiehed Gozo

The light is at its best in the late afternoon or at sunset. At midday, it is also very hot in summer. There is no shade there, including directly under the headless horses. 😉 Early in the morning, it is certainly the least busy. And there is a chance we might run into each other there. I would stop by either very early in the morning, between 8 and 9, or at sunset.

Conclusion | Is a Detour Worth It?

Is it really worth visiting the new attraction on Gozo? A clear YES, even though I am rather critical of the whole thing in the section above. Nevertheless I feel a stop there is worthwhile, especially when you also visit the Salt Pans and Xwejni Bay.

I am very curious to see how and above all whether the sculpture WIEĦED Gozo truly integrates into the landscape. I will also continue to follow the comments in the various groups, as the topic interests me as a travel blogger.

Leave me a comment below on how you see the topic. Have you already visited the new attraction on Gozo? What do you think of it?

FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions about the New Attraction on Gozo

Where is the new horse sculpture on Gozo located?

The sculpture stands on the cliffs of Ras ir-Reqqa at Xwejni, on Triq is-Sagħtrija near the well-known salt pans. The location is northeast of Marsalforn and is easily accessible by car via the coastal road.

Who is the artist?

It was created by Austin Camilleri, a Gozitan artist born in 1972 in Victoria. He has exhibited internationally, including at the Biennale in Venice and the Vatican Museums. On Malta he is also known for his three-legged horse Żieme in Valletta from 2014.

How tall is the sculpture?

WIEĦED is 570 cm tall, approximately 5.70 meters tall. It is made of bronze and balances on only two contact points, anchored with stainless steel in the rock.

What does WIEĦED mean?

WIEĦED is Maltese and means "one". The name refers to the fact that the sculpture does not show a single horse, but two animals that were merged into one figure through sampling and recombination.

Can it be visited for free?

Yes, the visit is free of charge and possible at any time. The sculpture stands freely accessible on the coast, with no entry fee, no opening hours and no barriers. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes and keep a safe distance from the cliff edge.

Gallery | WIEĦED Gozo

Here you will find some impressions and photos of the sculpture Wiehed Gozo.