Just 60 mi/95 km south of Sicily, Malta includes three major islands: Malta (95 sq mi/246 sq km), Gozo (26 sq mi/67 sq km) and Comino (1 sq mi/2.6 sq km). There are also two uninhabited islands: St. Paul's (off the northern coast) and Filfla (off the southern coast). The country's capital, Valletta, on the east coast of Malta, is built on a rocky peninsula that rises between two natural harbors. Gozo is the greenest of the islands, covered with terraced fields and lush orchards. All the islands—which have low inland hills and jagged coastlines—are surrounded by sparkling blue water.
People lived in Malta long before the voyage of Odysseus, who is said to have dallied with the nymph Calypso on one of the islands. Archaeologists believe that the first Maltese arrived from mainland Europe around the end of the last Ice Age, when sea levels were much lower and land bridges linked many of today's islands to the continent.
Strategically located between Sicily and North Africa, Malta was a prize whose importance exceeded its size. It has been visited or invaded by every major civilization in the region. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, French and English have all left evidence of their stays. During the Middle Ages, the Knights of St. John, a European religious and military order founded during the Crusades, made Malta their capital after they were expelled from Rhodes in 1530. The Knights turned the island into a defensive stronghold against the Ottoman Turks, and they built the walled city of Valletta, as well as the formidable fortresses around the Grand Harbour. The Great Siege of Malta took place in the 16th century, pitting 40,000 Turks against 9,000 Knights, Spaniards and Maltese. The island held out, and a Maltese reputation for resilience was born.
The British exercised the most recent influence. They took the island from Napoleon in 1800 and stayed until 1964. During World War II, Malta again endured a remarkable siege, thwarting Italian and German efforts to control the Mediterranean. The British presence is still palpable, but Malta is now independent. On 1 May 2004, it was one of 10 nations that joined the European Union, a move that has helped strengthen its economic and political standing.
Malta's main attractions are history, museums, churches, diving and other watersports, gardens, horse racing, medieval Mdina, caves, architecture, feast days, ancient ruins, a distinctive local culture and good food.
Malta will appeal to visitors who appreciate a combination of history, beautiful water and friendly people, and who don't mind dry, rocky terrain. Malta is not for those who are bored by archaeological sites or who demand lush, tropical beaches.
The Maltese language is Semitic in origin and is a mixture of Arabic, Italian, French and English, reflecting the mix of occupying forces over the years. The Maltese alphabet has 29 characters, including the x (pronounced
sh) and silent gh that give its place names such an exotic twist.
Malta's brightly painted fishing boats, called luzzu, hark back to ancient traditions and contrast delightfully with the tawny tones of the rocks and buildings. The eyes that are often painted near the boats' prows are those of Osiris, an Egyptian god whom the Maltese believe protects mariners from evil spirits.
For centuries, people have used shallow salt pans cut into the soft coastal rock to catch the waves. The water then evaporates, leaving sea salt. A good place to see this is near Reqqa Point on the north coast of Gozo, where the piles of salt in their rock frames make an unusual sight.
During World War II, Malta became the most-bombed spot in the world, undergoing more than 1,200 Italian and German air raids. At first, the Maltese were defended by three rickety biplanes dubbed Faith, Hope and Charity. The nation's red-and-white flag features the George Cross, awarded by the British monarch to the islands' residents for their steadfast bravery in World War II.
The dome of St. Mary's Church in Mosta (on Malta) is one of the world's largest. The church was also the site of the "miracle bomb." In 1942, a bomb pierced the dome during a Mass; more than 300 parishioners survived when the explosive failed to go off. Visitors can see the now-defused bomb and the spot in the dome where it entered.
You may see pumpkins on roofs in various cities. They are placed there to ripen for soup.
Trotting races (where the jockey rides in a two-wheeled cart behind the horse) are popular in the winter.
Malta's historic architecture and natural scenic backdrops have made it a favorite movie location for many Hollywood directors. Blockbusters such as Alexander, Gladiator, Troy and The Count of Monte Cristo have all been filmed there.
The Knights of St. John who arrived on Malta in the 1500s still exist today as a philanthropic organization. They assist in calamities worldwide and are still building hospitals as they have done for more than 900 years. On Malta, they run the blood bank.
