The renowned attraction was also a well-known filming site.
Exactly five years ago today, Malta woke up to the news that Gozo’s spectacular Azure Window had collapsed after a night of heavy storms.
The window’s collapse was inevitable and expected, since it had been visibly deteriorating since the early 1980s. Nevertheless, its collapse still caused social media uproar.
The arch started off as a cliff, which over many years of sea erosion became a cave. Over a lengthy period of time, the cave’s entrance got bigger and bigger, eventually forming the Azure Window.
The earliest known record of the Azure Window is through an illustration of the Dwejra Tower, dating back to 1824. Here, the arch can faintly be seen in the background.
British Maltese photographer, Richard Ellis went on to be the first person to photograph it the 1870s.
The legendary Azure Window was admired by thousands of tourists every year, who travelled far and wide to admire its beauty.
This natural phenomenon was also featured in many popular Hollywood films, such as Clash of the Titans, The Count of Monte Cristo and one of the most popular television shows on the planet, Game of Thrones.
Share your photos of the iconic window in the comments below!
Main Image: Instagram/Manuel Bischof