history about
malta
Malta, officially the Republic of
Malta (Maltese: Repubblika ta' Malta), is a densely
populated developed European microstate in the European
Union.
The island nation comprises an archipelago of seven
islands situated in the Southern European areas of the
Mediterranean sea, 93 km off the coast of Sicily
(Italy), 288 km east of Tunisia and 300 km north of
Libya. The islands enjoy a Mediterranean climate.
Throughout its history, Malta's location in the
Mediterranean Sea has given it a strategic importance.
Consequently, a sequence of powers including the
Sicilians, Phoenicians, Romans, Fatimids, Knights of St
John and British have all conquered Malta.
Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in
1964 but remains a member of the Commonwealth of
Nations. It is currently a member of the European Union,
which it joined in 2004, and also of the United Nations.
Malta is known for its world heritage sites, most
prominently the Megalithic Temples which are the oldest
free-standing structures on Earth. According to the Acts
of the Apostles, St. Paul was shipwrecked on the island.
Malta is also considered a potential location for the
mythical lost island of Atlantis. Malta's capital city
is Valletta.
The country's official languages are Maltese and
English, which replaced Italian in 1934. Malta has a
long legacy of Roman Catholicism, which continues to be
the official and dominant religion in Malta.
gozo and comino
Malta consists of a small group of
islands: Malta, Gozo, Kemmuna, Kemmunett, and Filfla,
located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. Gozo,
the most northerly island of the Maltese archipelago, is
second in size to Malta. With a population of only
25,000 people, Gozo has a character quite distinct from
Malta's. The countryside is greener and more
spectacular, with flat-topped hills characterizing the
landscape, while the coast has rugged cliffs, penetrated
by steep valleys and beautiful bays. Comino is the third
smallest island in the Maltese archipelago. Only a
handful of farmers live there and neither cars, nor
other noisy activities disturb the peaceful tranquility
of this little paradise. The bays and rocks in Comino
and the crystal-clear waters are ideal for any kind of
water sports, especially snorkeling and scuba diving.
There is regular ferry and helicopter service to and
from Malta and Gozo.
