The Azure Window was a limestone masterpiece that took 500 years to build

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For centuries, the Azure Window stood as a 28-metre-tall limestone icon on the island of Gozo. It was a natural marvel shaped by relentless wave action, eventually becoming a global landmark. Yet, its existence was always a race against time, ending in a dramatic collapse during a 2017 storm.

The Azure Window, or it-Tieqa Żerqa, was a striking natural arch located at Dwejra Point on the island of Gozo. Geologically, it was carved from the Lower Coralline Limestone Formation, a sedimentary rock layer deposited during the Oligocene. The structure’s evolution is estimated to have spanned approximately 500 years. It began as a notch created by wave action, which triggered vertical joints in the cliff face. These joints widened into a cave and eventually a free-standing arch. The arch consisted of two distinct geological members: Member A, which formed the sturdy base and pillars, and Member B, a softer, more porous layer that formed the unsupported roof.

While the arch became a major tourist attraction and a backdrop for productions like Game of Thrones, its stability was constantly in question. By the 20th century, the structure was already showing signs of significant erosion. Large sections of the top slab fell away between the 1980s and the 2000s, and further collapses occurred in 2012 and 2013. Despite warnings from geologists like Peter Gatt, who noted the structure's fragility and the potential risks of illegal explosive use in the nearby Inland Sea, visitors continued to walk on the arch until its final day.

On 8 March 2017, following heavy storms, the pillar supporting the arch gave way, causing the entire structure to collapse into the sea. The loss sparked intense debate about how to commemorate the site. Proposals ranged from leaving the ruins as a diving site to constructing a massive, mirrored steel structure titled The Heart of Malta. Ultimately, the government decided against rebuilding the arch, leaving the underwater remains as a testament to the natural processes that created it. Today, the site remains a protected area, serving as a reminder of the transient nature of Malta's geological heritage.

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