Cities & Sites on the island

Valletta the capital of Malta and home to over 6,000 people. It is known as the Fortress City as well as a World Heritage City. The city is also known for its Baroque style. It was built by the Knights of St. John. There are 320 monuments in Valletta. source [ http://www.visitmalta.com/ ]

Marsaxlokk a picturesque seaside village in Malta and a natural harbor. Luzzus are found here in Marsaxlokk (these are Maltese fishing boats). Fishing has been historically imporant here, and continues to be popular today. source-[ http://www.visitmalta.com/ ]

Gozo is second largest island of the nation, after the island Malta. The rural island is home to many ancient ruins. According to a National Geographic reporter, "The temples of Gozo ramble over a large expanse of countryside, and you can explore the ruins in peace. The beaches are far more crowded." source-http://www.nationalgeographic.com/traveler/photos/malta0304/malta_gallery8.html

Tarxien The remarkable prehistoric Tarxien temples are a part of the Global Heritage Fund. These temples were discovered in 1914 and taught much about how the temples were made so long ago. source- http://www.heritagemalta.org/

Mnajdra Also a part of the Global Heritage Fund, Mnajdra is home to the oldest free standing structures in the world. The oldest of the three temples here was built from 3,600 to 3,200 B.C. The Lower Temple is interesting due its astronomical alignment. during the Equinox, the summer solstice, and the winter solstice.

source- heritagemalta.org

Way Back When...

Malta has a very rich, prehistoric past. For example, the oldest buildings in Europe are found in Malta. Built by the first civilization to live on Malta, the oldest of all the megalithic temples on the islands dates back to before 3500 BC. (The Bradshaw Foundation-- http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/malta/index.php) The first inhabitants were followed by, in order: Phoenicians (700 B.C.), Punic (600 B.C.), Carthage (400 B.C.), Rome (218 B.C.), Byzantine Empire (330), Arabs (870), Normans (1090), Knights of St. John (1530), then, Malta became a British Colony (1800), and finally a republic (1964). (MaltaHistory.org.uk)



Recent History. Recently, tourism, especially in the summer, has been becoming more and more important to Malta and helping the economy here. Another help to the economy has been trade. In 2004 Malta became a part of the EU and in 2008 adopted the use of the euro. (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/malta/history) There are two main political parties in Malta: the Malta Labour Party and Partit Nazzjonalista. The President is Edward Fenech Adami and the Prime Minister is Dr. Lawrence Gonzi. Recent issues that this government faces include topics such as tourism, unemployment, allegations of corruption and protection of heritage sights. source-EuropaWorld.com

Malta at a glance

THE LAND. Arable land consists of 31.25% of Malta’s landmass, which totals 316 square kilometers. The natural resources include limestone, salt and arable land. Malta has a limited amount of natural fresh water resources and for this reason is increasingly dependent on the removal of salt from seawater.

THE PEOPLE. There are 401,880 people on the island of Malta. Approximately 2 in 1,000 people are migrants. The life expectancy in Malta is 79.15 years. This is somewhat high compared to the world average, which according to the World Bank’s website (worldbank.org) is 67. Maltese is the dominant ethnic group in Malta. They are descendants of Carthaginians and Phoenicians. Maltese and English are the official languages.

the above facts and figures come from ciaworldfactbook unless otherwise noted.

Mediterranean Island's Climate

The mediterranean climate creates pleasant weather in Malta year round, though it is stronly influenced by the sea. Hot, dry, sunny summers, warm, occassionaly wet autumns, and short cool winters create relatively stable weather in Malta. The average temperature in Malta is 64 degrees Farenheit while monthly averages range from 54 to 88 degrees. Rainfall averages only 24 inches a year. See http://www.maltaweather.com/climate.shtml

Parlez-vous Maltese?

English and Maltese are spoken in Malta. Maltese is similar to Italian, Sicilian, and Magrhebi Arab. For more on the language: http://www.omniglot.com/writing/maltese.htm

Location location location

Malta is a warm, densely populated country comprised of seven islands in the Mediterranean sea, only 37 miles south of Sicily.