57 Malta Facts Worth Reading: Maltese Island Revealed!

Malta is an island republic in the Mediterranean Sea, close to Italy.

The Maltese islands have been occupied by numerous different empires throughout history. It's no surprise that it's one of Europe's most popular holiday destinations, with a wealth of history and culture, delicious food, and breathtaking beauty.

Malta is more than simply an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea; it's a hidden treasure with more experiences than most people are aware of. It is also known for having the nicest weather on the planet! Even in the winter, it's always sunny, and the temperature never drops below zero.

Did you know that practically every major empire of the last two millennia has had a presence on the Maltese islands? Or that Malta is made up of seven islands? The following is a collection of the most astounding and interesting historical facts about this little country in southern Europe.

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Malta History

Let's read some interesting facts about Malta's history.

The island nation's name is said to be derived from a Greek word that means honey. It is home to an endemic bee species that produces a special form of honey which leads to Malta's unique production of honey. The ancient Greeks called Malta 'Melite', meaning honey-sweet. This is how the name Malta originated.

The cave of darkness, 'Ghar-Dalam', is thought to be Malta's oldest inhabited cave. Relics from that time period found in the cave offer details about the people who lived there thousands of years ago.

Around 5900 BCE, the first inhabitants of Malta arrived. The islands were colonized by a culture that built the Megalithic Temples around 3850 BCE.

These temples are still standing today as some of the world's oldest structures. Following it, Bronze Age warriors, the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Byzantines, and the Aghlabids governed the islands. The islands are also known for being the site of the historical St. Paul's shipwreck, which brought Christianity to Malta in 60 CE.

After several years of being thinly populated with relatively few inhabitants, the Arabs captured the islands in 870 CE, and for more than two centuries, the Arabs dominated Malta. The Maltese language, which includes numerous Arabic components, bears the mark of their reign.

In 1249, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II ordered that the Muslim people of Malta be evacuated or converted to Christianity.

The Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem was given to Malta by Charles V in 1530. They were known as the Knights of Malta and were responsible for the construction of towns, forts, and churches. The knights commissioned famous European artists to decorate Malta's churches and palaces.

On the islands, it was a golden period of culture. The seven Megalithic Temples are one of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country. Al Saflieni Hypogeum and Valletta are the other two.

For more than 150 years, Malta was under British rule as a British colony. British forces used it as a submarine base at the time. From the island, the British launched strikes on the Italian Navy. Unfortunately, Malta was also bombed by Italian and German air forces.

Napoleon Bonaparte and the French conquered Malta in 1798. In 1800, the Maltese asked the British for assistance, and the French forces were removed. In 1814, Malta was annexed by the British Empire. During the First World War and the Second World War, it served as a vital military and naval base.

Malta gained independence in 1964 and became a member of the European Union in 2004. The British parliament had passed the Malta Independence Act that year. The government of Malta is a parliamentary republic, with a president, prime minister, cabinet, and parliamentary secretaries. Malta is also a member of the British commonwealth.

Malta Geographic Location

Malta is a tiny island country located in the Mediterranean Sea, to the south of Italy and to the north of Libya. The island is 17 mi (27.3 km) long and 9 mi (14.4 km) wide, with a total area of 122 sq mi (316 sq km).

Among the Maltese archipelago, Malta is the largest island. Malta's capital city is Valletta. The area is so tiny that it is known to be one of the smallest national capitals among all European countries.

Malta is located east of Comino and Gozo island, which are known as its sister islands. Comino has few people and structures. There is only one motel and no vehicles. It is, nevertheless, home to the stunning and popular Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is a stunning landscape in Comino.

Malta is located on the Malta plateau. The high points of a land bridge connecting Sicily and North Africa established a shallow shelf that became isolated as sea levels rose after the last Ice Age.

The highest areas are coralline limestone uplands. Blue clay slopes separate the uplands from the surrounding areas, while an undercliff area forms a subordinate surface between the sea and the original beach where the coralline plateau has fallen.

Malta has a total shoreline of around 136 mi (218 km).

The escarpment in northern Malta is occasionally sharp and broken by deep embayments. To the south, however, the plateau gradually declines from about 600 -830 ft (182-253 m) into undulating sections of globigerina produced from marine protozoa limestone with elevations of less than 300 ft (91.4 m).

Malta is situated on the African tectonic plate. The island includes a number of hills, as well as cliffs, rocky shores, and golden sand beaches.

Summers on the Maltese islands are hot, dry, and sunny, with a Mediterranean climate. The winters are mild, while the spring and fall are often cooler. The amount of rain that falls each year is minimal, and it usually falls in the winter.

Malta is nearly devoid of trees, with few greenery and plants. Weasels, hedgehogs, bats, white rabbits, and mice are all its common creatures.

Numerous bays dot the islands' indented shoreline, providing excellent harbors. Low hills with terraced crops make up the scenery. Ta' Dmejrek, near Dingli, is Malta's highest point at 830 ft (253 m).

Malta is part of the Mediterranean Region's Liguro-Tyrrhenian province, which is part of the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, Malta is part of the 'Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub' ecoregion.

Malta People Customs And Traditions

Here are some amazing facts about Maltese people, their culture, and their lifestyle.

The Maltese culture is affected by the cultures of the countries that have ruled it, as well as those of its Mediterranean neighbors. Modern-day Malta is dominated by Latin European culture.

September 8 is a significant occasion in the Maltese calendar since it is 'Victory Day.'

Malta's official languages are Maltese and English, however French and Italian are widely spoken. Due to Malta's proximity to Italy, approximately 66% of the people can communicate in Italian. Malta is a country that has one of the most Catholic presences. Approximately 88% of the population claims to be Roman Catholic.

If you are a foodie you will love visiting Malta. Maltese cuisine is widely known to be extremely delicious. In Malta, meals often begin with a small bowl of minestra soup. Along with vegetables and fruits, stuffed fowl and baked pasta dishes are popular.

Lampuki pie, a pastry-covered fish casserole with spinach, cauliflower, chestnuts, and sultanas, is a traditional seasonal dish. Tomato sauce is frequently served with stuffed octopus, squid, and cuttlefish. A particular dish is a rabbit braised in wine, and families traditionally eat lamb around Easter.

Carnival, which takes place before Lent, is one of the country's most popular holidays and traditions. Children and adults dress up in elaborate costumes and march in parades with a variety of brightly colored Carnival floats.

What is Malta known for?

There are lots of intriguing facts about the beautiful island of Malta.

Malta is the European Union's smallest country. It is the world's 10th smallest country and the fourth most densely populated sovereign country.

Malta was awarded the George Cross by King George VI of England for its valor during the Axis Siege of the Second World War. The George Cross can still be seen on the national flag today.

Potatoes, vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli, and fruits like melons and strawberries are the principal agricultural crops. The principal export items are manufactured goods such as electronics, refined petroleum, packaged pharmaceutics, and toys.

Malta's largest trading partners are Germany, France, Italy, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Malta's national airline is Air Malta. The Euro, which was introduced in 2008, is Malta's currency.

If you enjoy Hollywood films, you might be interested to know that Malta has been the popular filming location for everything from 'Gladiator' to 'Captain Philips', to television's Game of Thrones'. Thanks to its gorgeous and peaceful shoreline, breathtaking landscapes, and ancient buildings are ideal filming spots for big-budget productions. It is also widely reputed for its world-class architecture.

Malta is a walker's heaven, with plenty of enjoyable walks and nice strolling places to be found throughout the island. Walking tours in Malta provide breathtaking sights, from spectacular cliff-edge views of the Mediterranean Sea to lush, green valleys dotted with prehistoric antiquities and old cave chapels.

The finest time to go hiking in Malta is right after the first lengthy rains of the season when the wildflower meadows bloom.

Traditional Maltese crafts are interesting to look into. Local crafts such as glass blowing and Maltese lace have been practiced for generations. The Ta' Qali crafts village has a number of workshops where you may see local artisans at work and purchase their creations at extremely low costs.

This island is one of the world's most exciting new tourist destinations. It is quickly becoming one of the trendiest tourist destinations on the planet, thanks to its sunny surroundings, pleasant climate, diverse adventure zones, architectural and historical monuments – including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and seven megalithic temples – and temperate climate

Malta has also been named by International Living as the country with the best climate in the world. In addition, it was rated one of the finest places to retire.

Malta is unique in that you can visit practically every spot and corner of the island in very little time due to its small size.

Malta is also known for its local traditional cuisine and historic character buildings with vividly colored balconies, in addition to the mix of glorious weather, aqua-blue seas and stunning scenery, massive temples, and busy nightlife.

Religious festivals are widely celebrated by the Maltese people. Between June and September, Malta organizes more than 75 local village feasts, which are originally religious celebrations in honor of the town's patron saint.

Fireworks, religious processions, and band marches are three expressions that sum up such celebrations. A few local tour companies arrange tours to some of the more well-known feasts. Summer is the busiest season for Malta's vibrant village festivals or fiestas.

These feasts are a staple of Maltese culture. Every village in Malta has its own patron saint and festival, which can last up to a week and include fireworks and food vendors to brighten up the summer evenings.

Malta is the only European Union member that still allows limited springtime shooting of select bird species, according to a special set of regulations negotiated by the Maltese government during EU accession discussions to preserve the hunter minority.

Hunting is a Maltese tradition, and while it is not widely practiced, hunters wield tremendous political power, with the ability to sway an election in one party's favor.

Malta is a secure place to visit; in fact, it is one of Europe's safest places. In recent years, there have been no terrorist attacks on the islands, and the crime rate is very low. Maltese people are naturally helpful and polite, and they will usually go out of their way to assist you with whatever you require.

Religion, politics, football, local band groups, and other common interests are shared by many Maltese. You'll often discover that they pick a side and passionately defend their side's ideas and ideals, which can lead to intense, but seldom violent, debate.

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