about malta

Megaliths, medieval dungeons and Calypso's Cave – The Maltese Islands are positively mythic. The narrow meandering streets of their towns and villages are crowded with Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces. As the countryside is dotted with the oldest known human structures in the world, the Islands have rightly been described as an open-air museum.



The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, with Malta 93km south of Sicily and 288km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino with a total population of 400,000 inhabitants over an area of 316sq km and a coastline of 196.8km (not including 56.01 km for the island of Gozo).



Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. Gozo is the second largest island and is more rural, characterised by fishing, tourism, crafts and agriculture while Comino is largely uninhabited.



With superbly sunny weather, expansive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. With a little help from any guidebook, captivating places of interest are immediately identified – the world famous Hypogeum selected as a place of World Heritage by UNESCO, prehistoric temples and grand palaces are but a few.



The long relationship between the Islanders and the various nationalities that occupied Malta over the centuries has created a marriage of styles and traditions, giving the Islands a fascinating eclectic culture.

Malta has a strong and growing economy. It has been an EU member since 2004, and adopted the Euro on 1st January 2008 reinforcing its relationship with Mainland Europe. The island is fast becoming one of the prime Financial Centres of Europe. It is developing into the IT Centre of Excellence for Europe and the Mediterranean, with Smart City die to be established on the island within the next five years. In addition, due to investment and development, Malta is emerging as the online gaming centre, hosting the highest concentration of iGaming companies anywhere in the world.



English is one of Malta’s two official languages, and is spoken fluently alongside Maltese and usually a number of other languages. Malta is well serviced by major and local airlines, linking it to all key cities within Europe and further afield.

Images thanks to Visit Malta www.visitmalta.com