The Republic of Malta is an archipelago of six islands situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Malta and Gozo (Ghawdex) are the two main inhabited islands, totalling a population of app. 410,000 people. Comino (Kemmuna) sustains a very small population, whilst Cominotto (Kemmunett), Filfla and St. Paul's Islands (Il-Gzejjer ta' San Pawl) are uninhabited.
 The largest island of the group is Malta, from which the whole archipelago takes its name. Valleta, the capital, is the cultural and administrative centre of the archipelago, as well as an important commercial centre together with the Sliema/St. Julian's area.
Gozo's charm lies in the fact that it is much more quiet and less industrialised, being a much sought after resting place for both locals and tourists. The main centre in Gozo is Victoria (Rabat).
Comino and Cominotto attract sun seekers mainly to the Blue Lagoon and other beaches.
Other info:
Area of the Maltese Islands: 316 Km2
Population of the Maltese Islands: 410,000
Population Density: 1282/Km2
Position: 36o00 North, 14o36 East
Distances: Malta is 93km away from the nearest point in Sicily, and 288km away from Tunisia. Gibraltar is 1,826km to the west, whilst Alexandria (Egypt) 1510km to the East.
Physical Features: Malta has no mountains or rivers, however both Malta and Gozo feature a number of low hills with terraced fields. The coastline is well indented with a number of bays, harbours,
 creeks, sandy beaches, rocky caves and cliffs. The Maltese shoreline is 136km long, whilst Gozo's is 43km.Councils: Malta is divided into 54 Local Councils, whilst Gozo is divided into 14.
People: Maltese 95.3%, British 1.6%, Other 3.1%
Languages: The two official languages are Maltese and English, however Italian and other languages are spoken as well.
Religion: Malta is 95% Roman Catholic. Other congregations in Malta are Protestants, Muslims and Jews.
Politics: Malta is a Republic, with a President and a House of Representatives elected every five years. Elections for Local Councils are held every three years.
Economy: Foreign Trade, Manufacturing (Electronics and Textiles) and Tourism.
National Holidays: 31st March (Freedom Day), 7th June (Sette Giugno), 8th September (Victory Day), 21st September (Independence Day) and 13th December (Republic Day).
Cuisine: Maltese cuisine is typically Mediterranean, based mainly on local produce and seafood. A number of recipes have Sicilian, Southern Italian, Berber, Turkish, Spanish, French and British influences. Some unique local foods are Hobz biz-Zejt, gbejniet, pastizzi, mqaret and Ross-il Forn.
History (an abbreviated Timeline)
5,200 BC: first settlers arrive from the island of Sicily
 800-480 BC: Phoenician colonisation
700 BC: Greek colony
480 BC: Malta under Carthaginian rule
218 BC: Malta incorporated in the Roman Republic
60 AD: St. Paul is shipwrecked in Malta
395 AD: Malta moves under Byzantine Rule following the division of the Roman Empire
870 AD: The Aghlabid Arabs conquer Malta
1091 AD: Count Roger 1 of Sicily establishes the Norman rule in Malta
1194-1266 AD: Swabians take over the islands
1266-1283 AD: The Angevins rule Malta
1283-1530 AD: The Crown of Aragon rules over Malta
1530 AD: Malta is given to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and Rhodes
1565 AD: Great Siege of Malta
1566 AD: Founding of Valletta
1798 AD: Napoleon conquers Malta
1800 AD: Malta is under British Rule
1942 AD: King George VI awards the George Cross to the Island of Malta to honour its courage and heroism during World War II
1964 AD: Malta obtains its Independence from Britain
1974 AD: Malta becomes a Republic, with Sir Anthony Mamo becoming its first President.
2004 AD: Malta joins the European Union
2008 AD: The Euro replaces the Lira as the Maltese currency.
 Climate
The climate in Malta is Mediterranean/Subtropical with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. There are really only two seasons in Malta, Summer and Winter. The average temperature in summer reaches 30oC, whilst in winter the average temperature is 12oC. The average rainfall is 558.2mm (22 in) per year.
For more information visit: www.visitmalta.com |
The Maltese Islands |