Malta

Malta exudes character, from its vibrant blue waters and secluded bays, to medieval walled citadels and splendid baroque churches. Year on year, visitors flock to Malta's striking coastline, enjoy plates of fresh seafood, and explore the many historic buildings and colourful traditional villages that speckle the landscape.

Situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, the Maltese archipelago includes the islands of Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminotto and Filfla. These sunny islands have been described as one big open-air museum, and it is easy to delve into Malta's mysterious prehistory, retrace the footsteps of St Paul, or see where the Knights of St John defended Christendom.

Although small, Malta has a long and rich history, with evidence for habitation going back to the Neolithic era (4th millennium B.C.). The country boasts some of the world's most ancient standing buildings (the Neolithic temples), and its strategic location and good harbors in the middle of the Mediterannean have attracted Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Crusaders, the French and finally the British, with the colonial period lasting until 1964.

The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights Hospitallers and Knights of Malta, took over sovereign control of Malta in 1530, and by 1533 the Order had built a hospital at Birgu (one of the Three Cities) to care for the sick. In 1565, Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, mounted a great siege of Malta with a fleet of 180 ships and a landing force of 30,000 men. In response the Order, with only 8,000 defenders, drove the Ottoman Turks away after a hard siege of several months. After this siege, the Order founded the city of Valletta on a peninsula, and fortified it with massive stone walls, which even withstood heavy bombing during the Second World War. By 1575 the Order had built a new large hospital known as the Grand Hospital or Sacred Infirmary in order to continue with its primary mission of caring for the sick.

In 1798, the French under Napoleon took the island on 12 June, without resistance, when the Grand Master of the Order capitulated after deciding that the island could not be defended against the opposing French naval force. French rule lasted a little over 2 years, until they surrendered to the British Royal Navy, under Admiral Nelson's command, in September 1800.

Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars.

The island was awarded the George Cross for its heroic resistance during the Second World War. An image of the cross is displayed on the flag.

Beaches in Malta

The islands of Malta and Gozo have a number of beaches perfect for sunbathing, snorkeling and swimming. The most popular tend to be sandy beaches, especially if you have children, but there are also places where you can go swimming off the rocks and can sometimes be even better than sandy beaches. In Malta, many of the beaches can become pretty busy in summer, especially on the weekends. If you are looking for a more private beach you will have to do a little exploring.

Nightlife in Malta

Malta's nightlife is centred around St Julian's more specifically, Paceville and also St Paul's Bay. There you will find several discos, bars and nightclubs to suit every age. There are three casinos in Malta where Roulette, baccarat and blackjack can be played. The principle one is The Dragonara Casino in Paceville while the others are found in Cottonera and St Paul's Bay. Three multiplex cinemas showing the latest releases are found in St Julian's, Valletta and St Paul's Bay. A further small arts cinema is to be found in the St James Cavalier Arts complex in Valetta. The Manoel Theatre in Valletta is a delightful architectural gem and is reputed to be one of the oldest theatres in Europe. Performances are generally held until June and include concerts, opera and drama.

Catch a bus in Malta

Public transport in Malta is cheap and easy to use, and the eccentric vintage buses prove quite an attraction for tourists - especially when greeted with various religious shrines upon getting on. Valletta is very well connected with buses to all other towns and villages, and other popular tourist areas are in easy reach. For more information see www.maltabybus.com.

Popeye Village - Malta

Take the family to visit the set of the film Popeye, which today is an open-air museum and entertainment complex (www.popeyemalta.com). There are shows, rides and museums, as well as play houses where children can climb and explore the village. Children may also get to meet the main characters from the show.