MALTA

The Maltese Islands are situated in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. This small archipelago of islands comprises Malta, the largest island, and her sister islands of Gozo, Comino and Filfla.  The Maltese Islands are not large, barely covering 122 square miles or 420 square kilometers of territory, and are devoid of natural resources. However, they are rich in history and culture.  Throughout the years, the islands were greatly influenced by the diverse cultures and histories of the peoples who dominated the islands, among whom were the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, the Knights of St John, the French and the British. All of these left a mark on the culture and folkloristic heritage of the Maltese people.

It is its strategic placing that has brought Malta to the centre of historical events, where it has often played a crucial role.  The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 contributed in making Malta an important port en route to India.  The Islands possess a magnificent harbour that has allowed them to serve as a naval base throughout history.

Because of its long, rich and varied history, the archipelago offers a myriad of places of cultural interest to visitors, among which are the megalithic temples of Ggantija which pre-date Stonehenge, the Grand Harbour - one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world.

Malta is very densely peopled, with a population of 398,000.  The climate is typically Mediterranean, with very hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Although it is only a small archipelago, the people speak their own tongue, Maltese, which is a language of Semitic origin which has over the years adopted many foreign words, particularly from the Italian language. Maltese is the only Semitic language written in Latin characters.

Malta’s capital city is Valletta.

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