Malta is an island situated in the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and the North African coast. It is 316 km squared with a population of 450,000. The Maltese Archipelago is made up of three inhabited islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino and four smaller uninhabited islands; Filfla, Cominotto, Manoel Island and St. Paul’s Islands.
Malta is the main, larger, island with a population of just over 400,000 people. Gozo is the second largest island with 37,300 inhabitants, while Comino is the smallest inhabited island with a population of just 4 people.
Malta used to be a British colony but is independent since 1964. Because of this you will find that almost everyone on the island speaks English.
Malta has known a lot of different occupants, and was ruled by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines and the Order of the Knights of St. John.
Probably the greatest battle of Malta is “The Great Siege of Malta” (1565) during which the Order of the Knights of St. John successfully resisted the Ottoman’s to take over Malta in a grueling five month battle. This is often described as one of the bloodiest battles in history.
Malta has a rich history with Valletta, it’s Capital, being declared as a UNESCO world heritage site.
One of the main strengths of the island is the fact that Malta literally has something to offer to everyone. This ranges from the only prehistoric underground temple in the world to beaches to world-famous diving sites, churches and a vibrant nightlife.
In Comino, one can find the Blue Lagoon with the bluest waters you will probably ever see. Gozo is very close and you can visit it easily by ferry from Malta, the passage to Gozo takes about 20 minutes.
The islands have also been featured in an ever increasing list of movies. Examples include The Gladiator, Troy, Assassins Creed, The Soldiers of Benghazi, Captain Phillips, The Da Vinci Code, U-571 and others.