ARCHIPELAGOES - Malta - History of Malta

History at a glance

- Around 800 B.C., the Phoenicians arrived.

- In 218 B.C., Malta was conquerd by the Romans.

- Somewhere near 470 A.D., it was the Byzantines' turn to conquer.

- After four hundred years, in 870 A.D,, Malta was occupied by the Arabs, who had a great effect on the Maltese language.

- Count Roger and the Normans were next, in 1090 A.D. (from now on I'll skip the A.D.)

- 1268 saw the arrival of the Angevins

- But they left in 1283 to make room for the Aragonese.

- The Castillians took over in 1410

- The Order of St. John were given the Islands in 1530. They built most of the old fortified cities that are still standing today.

- Napoleon led the French when they conquered Malta in 1798.

But the Maltese rebelled and helped the English overcome him in 1800.

- On the 21st September 1964, Malta gained independence, within the commonwealth, from the British. 32 years later, to the day, my home page went on-line.

- On the 31st of March 1979, the last British soldiers left Malta, and finally Malta was not a fortress serving foreign powers. That day is now celebrated every year as Freedom day.

The Archipelago presents one of the most charming destinations in the Mediterranean, and offers a unique holiday experience. Blessed with year-round sunshine and set in crystal clear waters, the Islands are a fascinating setting for a vacation. Numerous cultural, artistic and natural treasures are there for you to discover and the beauty is that they are all within easy reach, wherever you choose to stay on the Islands.

Whether you’re seeking action or relaxation, tranquillity or excitement, you can find it in Malta. For lovers of music, theatre and the arts, Malta boasts an abundant calendar of cultural events. For the sportive visitor, the islands offer golf, tennis, horse-riding, adventure sports and unlimited possibilities for water sports - from sailing to windsurfing and some of the best scuba diving in the Mediterranean.

Malta is a feast for the senses: delicious local cuisine and wines, bustling open-air markets, traditional fireworks extravaganzas, crafts such as delicate lace and multicoloured glassware, the thrills of the casino... more.Malta is now an independent republic in the Commonwealth of Nations and consist of a small group of islands - Malta, Gozo, Kemmuna, Kemmunett, Filfla and St Paul's Islands (where the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked in AD 60); located right in the heart of the Mediterranean approximately one hundred kilometres south of Sicily and about two hundred and twenty kilometres off the North African coastline. The total area of the islands is 316 sq km.

Malta's topography is characterised by a series of low hills and slopes towards the Northeast and low lying land to the Southeast. The Islands have a typically temperate climate offering warm, dry summers and mild winters. They enjoy some 300 days of sunshine and the average rainfall is about 590mm. Temperatures range between 14°C in winter and 32°C in summer.
Malta is largely deforested and the landscape is moderate contours and open valleys. Much of the architecture is made from local, honey colored limestone. Limestone walls outline fields and yards and the pinks, reds and whites of oleander bushes appear everywhere. Sunsets can provide spectacular lighting offering fantastic cloud formations with impressive pastel colours!

The population numbers circa 370,000. Of these, 28,000 live in Gozo. Comino is only inhabited by a few farmers. Because of their strategic position, Malta and Gozo have been inhabited for the past 7,000 years. The two islands have a long and varied prehistoric period: Neolithic, Copper and Bronze age civilisations lasted more than 4,000 years; one can still admire vestiges of those remote times in form of impressive stone temples, a unique hypogeum and remains of skilful handicrafts.

The first known people to settle in Malta were the Phoenicians, who reached these shores on their trading ventures in the 9th century BC. They were succeeded by their Punic kinsmen, the Carthaginians, who were eventually conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BC. The Romans governed these islands until the division of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD.

Arabs from North Africa occupied the Islands from the 9th to the 13th century and when the last Arab rulers were driven out in the year 1249, they left behind them notable imprints of their culture on the language of the Maltese people.

After the Norman overlords, Swabian and Angevin dynasties ruled for brief periods and at the beginning of the 14th century, the Islands fell under Aragonese domination. In 1530, the King of Spain, Emperor Charles V, granted the Islands on fief to the international Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem.

The Knights administered the Islands for 268 years until 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte drove them from these shores and occupied the country in the name of the French Republic.

Following a brief occupation the French were forced to surrender after two years of a land and sea blockade by combined British and Maltese forces, and in 1800, Malta became a part of the British Empire.

In 1964, Malta attained its Independence. and ten years later, in 1974, it was declared a Republic within the Commonwealth.

Until the 1960s, the Maltese economy depended mostly on the British services and the Naval Dockyard. After independence, industry and tourism advanced at a fast pace, and at present Malta and Gozo have established a good industrial base and flourishing tourist enterprises.

Beautifully situated at the heart of the Mediterranean, nestling between Europe and Africa, lie Malta and its sister islands, Gozo and Comino. The island offers magnificent scenery and nature, lively nightlife and unique cultural impressions. As an international melting pot for thousands of years, Malta has been influenced by many different cultures. The Arabs influenced the music, the Normans left behind historic buildings and the British contributed English, the second official language after Maltese. With an ideal location and climate, fascinating history and unique cultural heritage, Malta makes a perfect tourist destination all year round.

Public Transport
Public transport Malta’s public transport network offers a cheap and fun way to get around the island. The main terminal is located in the capital Valetta, from were buses operate to all parts of the island. Other direct bus routes are also available. The bus fare is between 15 and 25 cents. The longest bus ride takes about 50 minutes (the island is not that large). Visit www.maltatransport.com for more information.

Taxi
The white taxis will take you where you want to go from the airport at fixed fares. You purchase a taxi ticket in the arrival hall and hand it to the driver. The cost per kilometer is about Lm 0.50. The fare from the airport into Valetta is Lm 6.00.

Tipping
Taxi drivers and restaurants, 10 percent (if a service charge is not included).

Visit the 5,000-year-old megalithic temples, many of which pre-date other ancient wonders such as the Great Pyramids and Stonehenge.

Take a fun boat ride on a traditional fishing boat to see the Blue Grotto.

Verdala Castle, Buskett Forest, Dingli Cliffs and the prehistoric 'Cart-Ruts' are all within walking distance of one another providing a leisurely day out.

The nearby island of Gozo is steeped in history and offers the opportunity to view a wealth of medieval and prehistoric points of interest. The smallest of the islands, Comino, with a sleepy way of life has many sheltered bays. The spectacular Blue Lagoon is perfect for swimming, snorkelling or just relaxing and soaking up the sun.

The Maltese archipelago is Europe's third best dive site. Waters are crystal clear giving a visibility range of up to 30 metres. It is an excellent location for both beginners and experienced open water and cave divers. Wrecks, caves, bays, natural harbours are just waiting to be explored.

Popeye Village at Anchor Bay with its preserved original film set is a particularly beautiful spot. Malta has been the film set of other big screen movies including Gladiator.

Malta is home to an amazing array of museums that will dazzle you with captivating history. Just a small selection of museums includes: The National Museum of Fine Arts, National Museum of Archaeology, Maritime Museum and the Folk Museum. A great way to get an encompassing introduction is The Malta Experience situated in Valletta.

If taking in 18 holes is your preferred pastime.

The Royal Malta Golf Club in Marsa is the answer. The splendid climate of Malta makes the island ideal for golf at any time of year. When northern European golf courses are closing for the season, the Malta golf scene is entering its peak period. From early autumn and all through to spring the island’s only golf course, the Royal Malta Golf Club, is a hive of activity. Playing this 120-year-old course with its historic backdrop is in itself a very special experience. The 18-hole course is located just outside Valetta and offers a pleasant challenge to the holiday golfer without being too hard on the novice. The course is part of the Marsa Sports and Country Club, a slightly worn but nevertheless charming facility left behind by the British and well worth a visit. http://www.maltagolf.org/

The sunshine and bathing season stretches into November with an average water temperature of 22.8°C during the period May to October. And when the sea begins to cool down the high season for golf takes over and lasts right through until the following summer. Shopping is a perennial delight. There is a market on Merchants Street in Valetta every day except Sunday, from seven in the morning to one o’clock in the afternoon. The many and varied stands are loaded down with clothing, CDs, watches, mats, toys, etc.

1. Ghajn Tuffieha. A protected beach with reddish sand.
2. Mellieha Bay. Malta’s largest sand beach, lined with hotels.
3. Golden Bay. A beach popular among young people, who often linger into the evening for a beach party.
4. Paradise Bay. small beach, where you find Paradise bay Hotel and The Riviera Hotel.
5. Armier Bay. A secluded sandy beach for those who like to relax in a calm atmosphere.

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The Royal Malta Golf Club			The splendid climate of Malta makes the island ideal for golf at any time of year. When northern European golf courses are closing for the season, the Malta golf scene is entering its peak period. From early autumn and all through to spring the island’s only golf course, the Royal Malta Golf Club, is a hive of activity. Playing this 120-year-old course with its historic backdrop is in itself a very special experience. The 18-hole course is located just outside Valetta and offers a pleasant challenge to the holiday golfer without being too hard on the novice. The course is part of the Marsa Sports and Country Club, a slightly worn but nevertheless charming facility left behind by the British and well worth a visit.