Why Malta
Malta is the largest and most populated island of the Maltese Archipelago, situated in the central Mediterranean Sea directly south of Italy and north of Libya. Spanning 246 square kilometres, the island measures 27 kilometres long and 14.5 kilometres wide. The capital is Valletta, while Rabat stands as the largest individual locality. The landscape consists of low hills covered with terraced fields, reaching its highest elevation at Ta' Dmejrek near Dingli. Although permanent lakes and rivers are absent, small watercourses flow year-round in places like Ras ir-Raħeb and l-Imtaħleb.
Human habitation on the island dates back to roughly 5200 BC, beginning with early settlers from Sicily who occupied cave sites such as Għar Dalam. Around 3500 BC, temple builders constructed massive free-standing megalithic structures, including Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. Later Bronze Age residents at Borġ in-Nadur erected early fortifications. Over subsequent centuries, Malta passed through Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Sicilian rule before being granted to the Order of Saint John in 1530. The Order repelled the Great Siege of 1565 and constructed Valletta. Following a brief period of French rule under Napoleon, Britain controlled the island from 1800 until Maltese independence in 1964.
Malta features a Subtropical-Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and very mild winters, enjoying roughly 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. Sea temperatures remain warm throughout much of the year. The island's indented coastline creates several natural harbours, including the Grand Harbour east of Valletta, which hosts cruise ships and passenger ferries connecting to Pozzallo and Catania in Sicily, as well as Marsamxett Harbour with its yacht marinas. To the north, the harbour at Ċirkewwa operates daily ferry routes to the neighboring island of Gozo.
Inland, the former airfield at Ta' Qali now houses a national park, a sports stadium, a local Crafts Village, and the Malta Aviation Museum, which displays preserved World War II aircraft such as Spitfire and Hurricane fighters. Public transit across the island relies primarily on a centralized bus network, and driving is on the left side of the road. Air passengers arrive via Malta International Airport, built on a former military air base. Today, Malta attracts around 1.2 million tourists annually, drawing travelers interested in its historical architecture, maritime facilities, and expanding health tourism sector.
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