Geography

The Maltese archipelago is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, with the largest inhabited island, Malta, lying 93km (180miles) from North Africa. Gozo and Comino are the only other inhabited Islands. Known as the Jewel of the Mediterranean the landscape of all three is characterised by low hills with terraced fields.

Malta has no mountains or rivers. Its coastline is indented with harbours, bays, creeks, sandy beaches and rocky coves. Complimented with deep blue waters, Gozo is connected to Malta by ferry and is more thickly vegetated, with many flat-topped hills and craggy cliffs. Comino, the smallest Island, is connected to Malta and Gozo by ferry and is very sparsely populated.

The Maltese Islands enjoy a healthy climate that of year round sunshine with mild winters and hot summer seasons. Cold winds, snow, frost and fog are unknown. Rain falls between September and April. It seldom rains after April, and nearly never in summer time. The temperature averages 57.5 degrees Fahrenheit in winter (Nov-Apr) and 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer (May-Oct). The hottest period is from mid-July through mid-September although the islands seldom get too hot, as hot summer days and nights are regularly tempered by cool sea breezes.

The majority of fields are small and terraced, but despite lack of rain and other adverse terrain conditions, agriculture is well developed.

Brief History

For 7000 years the Islands attracted visitors with different cultures, who influenced the Islands’ heritage.

The first Maltese were Stone Age farmers who came from Sicily about 4,000 B.C. They maintained trade links with their original homeland. Later they built magnificent stone temples dedicated to a Mother Goddess of Fertility.

About 2,000 B.C. Bronze-Age warriors from Southern Italy came and supplanted the farmer population. These warriors left walled settlements and the cart-ruts spread all over the Island.

By 800 B.C. Phoenician merchants had colonized the island. These settlers were peaceful and clever traders and are known as Punic in origin. The Maltese probably are the descendants of much Punic stock.

These peaceful settlers were conquered by the Romans about 218 B.C. and Malta came to form part of the Roman Empire. The Maltese eventually became Roman citizens with a measure of autonomy.

The Island became Christian in 60 A.D. when St. Paul was shipwrecked on the island. Remains from this period, mostly around the Rabat and Mdina area, testify to a cultured class of Maltese citizens.

The Arabs took over as conquerors in 870 A.D. and Christianity petered out until it surfaced again with the coming of the Normans in 1090 and 1127. Malta came to form part of the province of Sicily and underwent the same changes as its bigger island neighbour seeing a chain of new conquerors such as the Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese and Castillians until the year 1530 when the order of the Knights of St. John were given the Islands of Malta and Gozo by the German Empire Charles V.

The Knights turned Malta into a small nation and built palaces, churches and defences which are still in existence today. The victory over the Turks in 1565 marked a new beginning for Malta as a European and Christian Island.

The state of affairs came to an end with the conquest of the island by Napoleon in 1798 and the consequent ousting of the French by the British in 1814. Malta became a part of the great British Empire until it became a totally independent and sovereign state in 1964, followed by becoming a Republic in 1974. Today it forms part of the European Union having joined on 1 May 2004.

The Capital: Valletta

Located in south east of Malta this town was built on a hill called Mount Sceberras by the Knights of Malta in the 16th century. This town is one of the richest in heritage, architecture and unique buildings. In addition, the large natural Grand Harbour makes the city one of a kind. Besides a great number of shops, one can find the parliament, law courts and government departments located here.

Area

316 sq km (122 sq miles)

Population Density

1189.0 per sq km. Spread in towns and villages especially in the south.

Character

The Maltese are friendly, very warm, amicable, helpful, courteous and tolerant. The Maltese love visitors and make sure that they make you feel at home.

Religion

The islands are predominantly Roman Catholic. However one can find churches of other denominations and a mosque.

Language

Maltese (a Semitic language), English and Italian are widely spoken.

Currency

Euro

Health

Government maintains a large, state-of-the-art hospital called Mater Dei Hospital. The National Health Service is free of charge and there are health agreements with many countries. Private hospitals and private health care also exists on Malta.

Sports

The most popular are football, yachting, water polo, basketball, golf and scuba diving.

Industry

Tourism.

Government

The Maltese Islands are a Republic and gained independence from the UK in 1964. The head of state is the president. The head of the government is the prime minister.

Time

GMT + 1

Electricity

240 volts AC, 50Hz. UK style 3-pin plug are in use.

Communications

Telephone: IDD is available. Country Code: +356. Outgoing International Codes: 00. Public telephone booths are widely available. Mobile telephone: dual band network with extensive coverage of land and sea.

Gozo, or Ghawdex (pronounced: awdesh)

Gozo lies about 20 minutes away from Malta by ferry. Measuring about one third the size of Malta it has a distinct character. It is primarily comprised of fishing and farming communities and the countryside is greener and more spectacular. Its main historical attractions are the Megalithic Temples of Ggantija which according to the latest analyses, date back to around 4000years BC.

Ferry Service

The Gozo channel company operates an all year round ferry service between Cirkewwa, Malta and Mgarr, Gozo. Journey time is approximately 20 minutes.

Travelling

By air: Malta International Airport in Luqa services Air Malta / Lufthansa / Alitalia / British Airways / Ryanair / Easy Jet. Flights operate daily to Europe, Far East, North America and North Africa. Malta is also served by cruise liners, and catamarans.

Transport

Public transport at very low rates and there are taxi services. No trains or underground trains are found on the Island.

Driving

Maltese drivers drive on the left. The extra urban speed limit is 60 km/h and in towns it is 35 km/h.

Education

State schools are free. The University of Malta runs a wide range of degree courses. There is also a selection of private schools.