An archipelago of seven islands, only three of which are inhabited, the Maltese islands are blessed with clear blue waters, secluded bays and sandy beaches set in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. Not only for sun worshipers, Malta’s ancient towns are fascinating open-air museums where narrow cobblestone streets wind there way past medieval castles, Baroque palaces and Renaissance cathedrals. The countryside is sprinkled with ancient Greek temples and the oldest-known structures in the world.
Malta has long been a historic and beautiful oasis that visitors cannot seem to get enough of. The warm Mediterranean climate makes it an ideal year-round destination. Its azure seas, teeming with marine life attract many diving enthusiasts. The soul of the islands are the tiny villages with their unique daily life and vivacious festivals.
Inhabited since 5200 BC, Malta is widely known for its rich archeological heritage. Visitors can easily explore the islands’ mysterious history and see the Biblical shipwreck of Saint Paul, visit Calypso’s Cave, and see where the Knights of Saint John defended Christianity, to name a few of its many intriguing sights.
Stone Age farmers who had arrived from the nearby island of Sicily first settled the Maltese islands. During 3500 BC, these people built the oldest freestanding structures and oldest religious structures in the world, in the form of the megalithic Ggantija temples on Gozo. The Ancient Greeks brought their culture to Malta around 700 BC, particularly around the area of Valletta, the current capital. Even today this small yet bustling capital remains one of the best preserved fortified cities in the world and one of the architectural showpieces of Europe.