**Azure Window**

Dwejra is also home of the Fungus Rock or, as it is locally known, the Gebla tal-General which translates to General's Rock. It is called so in remembrance of the Italian General who centuries ago fell to his death while supervising quarrying activities in the area.

History tells us that a special plant with medicinal and healing properties used to grow on Fungus Rock and because of this the Rock used to be heavily guarded during the era of the Knights of Malta. Anyone caught stealing the crop was sentenced to death or to life on the galleys.

The crop was picked and brought to the mainland by using a primitive system of baskets and pulleys.



	Dwejra ("little house") , with its curious rock formations and spilling seas, is a magical attraction offering opportunities for swimming in the spectacular deep-sea or in the Inland Sea (see below), and the unique experience of diving in the so called "Blue-Hole" near the Azure Window.

	Dwejra is also home of the Fungus Rock or, as it is locally known, the Gebla tal-General which translates to General's Rock. It is called so in remembrance of the Italian General who centuries ago fell to his death while supervising quarrying activities in the area. History tells us that a special plant with medicinal and healing properties used to grow on Fungus Rock and because of this the Rock used to be heavily guarded during the era of the Knights of Malta. Anyone caught stealing the crop was sentenced to death or to life on the galleys. The crop was picked and brought to the mainland by using a primitive system of baskets and pulleys.

	A survey published on The Independent Newspaper (UK) dated 14th June 2003, classifies Blue Hole in Dwejra Gozo as "Best for Diving". The editor of the influential "Dive" magazine Simon Rogerson, who also voted in the survey was quoted giving the following comments: "For British divers, Malta and the neighbouring island of Gozo are the biggest dive destinations in the Med," says Simon. "The draw is the Med's only known blue hole a real geological anomaly." This natural plunge-pool of royal blue seawater appears to lead to the centre of the Earth, but actually bottoms out at around 60 metres. "For experience-junkies, this offers real sensory deprivation," says Simon. But watch out for nitrogen narcosis. "Blue holes have a siren allure for divers you can't resist going deeper." Moreover, in the same survey, the area around Dwejra was ranked 23rd in the list of the "Best Beaches in Europe". .