Malta – A brief guide
At the beginning of the first century AD, a man shipwrecked on the shores of the Republic of Malta. The islanders, who were, at the time, a simple farming community, demonstrated “unusual kindness” to the stricken man, and nursed him back to health. His name was Paul, otherwise known as the Christian martyr, St. Paul the Apostle.
St. Paul is credited with bringing Christianity to Malta, influencing the country’s architecture, culture, and traditions for centuries to come.
Today, Malta is a predominantly Catholic country. The republic has an alleged 365 churches and chapels across three islands, including St. John’s Cathedral and the Carmelite Church, which crowns the Valletta skyline. The Mosta Dome, a church in the town of Mosta, is a popular tourist destination, notable for having survived a direct attack by the Luftwaffe during the Second World War.
However, the modern churches and crypts are just an addendum in Malta’s history book; the tribes that tilled the sun-baked soil in prehistory left a number of monuments to their heritage. The Megalithic Temples of Malta, located near the towns of Tarxien, Mnajdra, and Scorba, among others, are recognised as among the oldest freestanding structures on earth.
The Maltese archipelago boasts seven World Heritage sites, all but one of which (Ggantija; located on Gozo) are situated on the island of Malta.
If damp catacombs and large rocks are not your ‘cup of tea’, then Malta, and in particular, the city of Valletta, offer a number of distinctly modern activities, such as scuba diving, spa days, and even Champions League football. The country’s most successful club, F.C. Valletta, is a veteran of the annual contest, and played its first match of the 2011/12 campaign on June 28.
The arts – theatre and opera in particular – are celebrated on Malta. The island’s pleasant climate allows for open-air performances, beneath the gaze of stars, or the clear blue sky.
Thinking of going to Malta then search online for hotels in malta and look for flights from the UK to Malta too.
