The Maltese archipelago, consisting of Malta, Gozo, Comino and two other uninhabited islands, is situated almost at the centre of the Mediterranean. Its geographical position has always attracted the attention of maritime powers, thus giving it a welt of history out of proportion to its diminutive size. 

The first known inhabitants were Sicilian Neolithic farmers (c.4000 B. C.).  At about 3200 B.C., there are indications of fresh migrations and a Copper Age tradition becomes apparent.  A startling cultural climax was reached in the unique series of megalithic temples erected c. 2800 - 1900 B.C.  This civilisation collapsed mysteriously and the Islands were subsequently inhabited by Bronze Age settlers.  In the ninth century B.C., the Phoenicians gained control and Malta's excellent harbours became a base for trading activities.  The island's strategic importance increased under the Carthaginians and attracted the attention of Greece and Rome. In 218 B.C. Titus Sempronius captured it for Rome but Punic civilisation was hardly affected. 

In A.D. 60, the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked off what is today known as St. Paul's Bay and the Islands were gradually converted to Christianity.  The late Roman period is obscure but the catacombs of the fourth and fifth centuries point to considerable prosperity.  The Byzantines were in control from approximately the late sixth century till A. D. 870 when they surrendered to the Aghlabid governor of Moslem Sicily.  The Arabs left a deep imprint, which persisted long after the Christian re-conquest by the Norman Count Roger in 1090.  A succession of European dynasties ruled the Islands, such as the German Hohenstaufen dynasty with Philip II, till 1530 when Charles V of Spain ceded them to the Knights of St. John.  The heroic resistance of the Islands during the Turkish attack in 1565 brought fame to Malta.  A period of unprecedented prosperity followed, but by the eighteenth century the Knights had become an anachronism and in 1798 they capitulated to Napoleon Bonaparte who had stopped in Malta on his way to Egypt.

The French occupation was brief as the Maltese rose in rebellion and, with the assistance British navy, defeated the French garrison.  The Islands were a British colony between 1800 and 1964.  The epic defence of the Islands during World War II is well remembered, and it was for this reason that this small nation was awarded the George Cross.  The Islands achieved independence in 1946 and in 1974 became a Republic within the British Commonwealth.

Gozo is an island that is calmer and more rural than its neighbouring sister, Malta.  Yet it is an island rich in legend and with warmth of welcome that is uniquely Gozitan in character.

Lace-making ladies still gossip in the quiet streets while their fingers manipulate their flying bobbins; farmers coax crops from the sun-beaten soil; the water laps gently at the volcanic rocks of the shore.  The pace of life in Gozo is relaxed, at ease with itself and the world.  Gozo has shrugged off the frantic race against time of modern life.  Yet there is much to do and to see.  Centuries of history rub shoulders with modern facilities and attractions.  There are sights and treasures to experience. 

As a democratic republic with a population of 380,000, the Maltese Islands’ economy is based on a wide commercial spectrum, which ranges from the manufacture of high technology components to a strong tourist industry. 
 
But ancient temples and historical cities are not the only attractions, which lure over a million visitors to Malta every year. The Islands are blessed with an incredible climate, which sees blue skies all year round, even throughout the mild winter. In summer, the rocky coastlines and sandy beaches become a mecca for sun lovers who make the best of the Islands ' clean seas, warm temperatures and water sport opportunities. 

The Maltese Islands are a place of contrasts where the old rubs shoulders with the new. From the modern pulse of the bustling tourist areas to the quiet country villages where horse-drawn carts and traditional crafts are still the order of the day, the Islands provide a blend of culture, history, activity and natural beauty that is truly unique.

The Maltese archipelago, consisting of Malta, Gozo, Comino and two other uninhabited islands, is situated almost at the centre of the Mediterranean. Its geographical position has always attracted the attention of maritime powers, thus giving it a welt of history out of proportion to its diminutive size. 

The first known inhabitants were Sicilian Neolithic farmers (c.4000 B. C.).  At about 3200 B.C., there are indications of fresh migrations and a Copper Age tradition becomes apparent.  A startling cultural climax was reached in the unique series of megalithic temples erected c. 2800 - 1900 B.C.  This civilisation collapsed mysteriously and the Islands were subsequently inhabited by Bronze Age settlers.  In the ninth century B.C., the Phoenicians gained control and Malta's excellent harbours became a base for trading activities.  The island's strategic importance increased under the Carthaginians and attracted the attention of Greece and Rome. In 218 B.C. Titus Sempronius captured it for Rome but Punic civilisation was hardly affected. 

In A.D. 60, the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked off what is today known as St. Paul's Bay and the Islands were gradually converted to Christianity.  The late Roman period is obscure but the catacombs of the fourth and fifth centuries point to considerable prosperity.  The Byzantines were in control from approximately the late sixth century till A.D. 870 when they surrendered to the Aghlabid governor of Moslem Sicily.  The Arabs left a deep imprint, which persisted long after the Christian re-conquest by the Norman Count Roger in 1090.  A succession of European dynasties ruled the Islands, such as the German Hohenstaufen dynasty with Philip II, till 1530 when Charles V of Spain ceded them to the Knights of St. John.  The heroic resistance of the Islands during the Turkish attack in 1565 brought fame to Malta.  A period of unprecedented prosperity followed, but by the eighteenth century the Knights had become an anachronism and in 1798 they capitulated to Napoleon Bonaparte who had stopped in Malta on his way to Egypt.

The French occupation was brief as the Maltese rose in rebellion and, with the assistance British navy, defeated the French garrison.  The Islands were a British colony between 1800 and 1964.  The epic defence of the Islands during World War II is well remembered, and it was for this reason that this small nation was awarded the George Cross.  The Islands achieved independence in 1946 and in 1974 became a Republic within the British Commonwealth.

Gozo is an island that is calmer and more rural than its neighbouring sister, Malta.  Yet it is an island rich in legend and with warmth of welcome that is uniquely Gozitan in character.

Lace-making ladies still gossip in the quiet streets while their fingers manipulate their flying bobbins; farmers coax crops from the sun-beaten soil; the water laps gently at the volcanic rocks of the shore.  The pace of life in Gozo is relaxed, at ease with itself and the world.  Gozo has shrugged off the frantic race against time of modern life.  Yet there is much to do and to see.  Centuries of history rub shoulders with modern facilities and attractions.  There are sights and treasures to experience. 

As a democratic republic with a population of 380,000, the Maltese Islands’ economy is based on a wide commercial spectrum, which ranges from the manufacture of high technology components to a strong tourist industry. 
 
But ancient temples and historical cities are not the only attractions, which lure over a million visitors to Malta every year. The Islands are blessed with an incredible climate, which sees blue skies all year round, even throughout the mild winter. In summer, the rocky coastlines and sandy beaches become a mecca for sun lovers who make the best of the Islands ' clean seas, warm temperatures and water sport opportunities. 

The Maltese Islands are a place of contrasts where the old rubs shoulders with the new. From the modern pulse of the bustling tourist areas to the quiet country villages where horse-drawn carts and traditional crafts are still the order of the day, the Islands provide a blend of culture, history, activity and natural beauty that is truly unique.