Malta overview travel guide

Malta is an archipelago, located centrally in the Mediterranean Sea. There are three inhabited islands; Malta, Gozo and Comina. Due to their strategic value, the Maltese islands were a coveted prize by the various regional powers throughout the past few millennia, with each leaving its own impact on the islands and their inhabitants.

Due to its proximity to Italy, much of the language and cuisine has been strongly influenced by the mainland nation, while the Arabs, Knights of St John and British have all left both tangible and intangible traces of their occupation. The Maltese are strongly Roman Catholic, with around 90 per cent of the population practising the religion devoutly.

The islands of Malta are relatively flat, with most of the cities and large towns located on the coastline. Valletta, the capital, is located midway along the northeast coastline of Malta, and is very much the centre of business, commerce and politics. Inland, the ancient city of Medina and its suburb Rabat are delightful places, seemingly lost in time. To the northwest of Malta Island lies Gozo, famed for its medieval Citadel at Victoria and Neolithic archaeological sites at Xaghra. Located between Malta and Gozo is delightful Comina, a mecca for water sports enthusiasts.

Although Malta is located in the middle of the Mediterranean, there are extremely frequent and convenient air transportation links to major European and UK cities, while there are regular ferries plying routes between Malta and Sicily and Salerno.

Valletta, the capital, is a fabulous fortified coastal city that was built by the Knights of St John in the 16^th century. Though the city is ancient, modern Valletta has tastefully integrated world-class institutions, facilities and amenities, including excellent healthcare services. The people have a reputation for kindness and are very friendly and helpful, though can be easily offended, particularly in matters of religion. Life on Malta proceeds at a relaxed pace, with great emphasis placed on enjoyment.

Quality hotels are concentrated in Malta’s larger cities and resort areas. The St George’s Bay and St Julian’s districts have the pick of the luxury hotels, while the resort of Bugibba has some excellent lodgings. Gozo has some superb hotels at Mgarr, Sannat and San Lawrenz, while Comina has recently attracted some high end developers.

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