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Situated in the Mediterranean between Sicily and Tunisia, the tiny country of Malta (population 375,000) measures just 316 sq km, and consists of three main islands - Malta, Gozo, and Comino. These islands have been settled for over 7000 years, having been successively settled or colonized by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, Germans, French, Spanish, and the British. The current inhabitants trace their origin to the Order of the Knights of Saint John, aka the Knights of Malta, who ruled from 1530 to 1790. The latter was founded in Jerusalem in 1050, reorganized as a monastic order in 1113, and became a military order in the 1130s. The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V gave them the island of Malta in 1530 in recognition of their activities during the Crusades.
View of Valletta, the capital, from Sliema across the Marsamxett Harbor. Founded in 1566, it enjoys one of the most scenic settings in the Mediterranean surrounded on three sides by water. |
Stately old mansions line the avenues of Sliema in the vicinity of Fort Manoel. Many of these were built contemporaneously with the fort by the British in the early 19C. |
Upscale waterfront apartments line Tower Road in Sliema, evidence of Malta's economic prosperity from oil bunkering, shipping, and tourism. |
The small Church of Notre Dame de Liesse stands in a sheltered cove in Sliema. |
The Church of St Publius is the parish church of Floriana, and lies just outside the fortifications which surround Valletta. It was built 1733-68. |
Winter rains bring forth bright flowers on a hill just outside the main city walls around Valletta. |
The Auberge of Castile in Valletta was completed in 1741, and is a striking example of Maltese Baroque. Today it houses the offices of the Prime Minister. |
Most of the buildings in central Valletta have these characteristic balconies and windows, a style unique to Malta. |
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| Two views (above) of the fortifications surrounding Valletta, which were built between 1566 and 1570. It is still possible to walk along most of the length of these walls. | |
A view along the shoreline of Vittoriosa, one of the so-called "Three Cities" across the Grand Harbor from Valletta. |
Senglea is another of the Three Cities. The small channel between it and Vittoriosa is called Dockyard Creek. |
Another view of Senglea from Vittoriosa. The prominent church is that of the Nativity of Our Lady, built 1565. |
Another view along Dockyard Creek of Senglea, which has a more working class character than Valletta or Sliema. |
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Along Dockyard Creek in Vittoriosa. The towers belong to the Church of St Lawrence, which was rebuilt in 1691. |
Detail of the Church of St Lawrence, Vittoriosa. |
A common sight in Malta are the numerous saints in niches such as this one in Vittoriosa. |
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| The view from Vittorosa to Kalkara across Kalkara Creek at sunset. Scenic from afar, Kalkara lacks the historic or cultural interest of Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Valletta, and is basically a nearby commuter suburb. | |
Most of the island of Malta is dry an relatively flat. Accordingly, prices are high as nearly everything must be imported. |
A carriage is the perfect mode of transport in Mdina, a small town which clings to the highest point on the main island of Malta. |
A quiet corner in Mdina. The town was founded by the Romans as Melita, and refounded by the Saracens (Arabs) in the 9C. |
A view of the Mdina citadel gives some idea of its defensive position. It was fortified by the Saracens in the 10C. |
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| Two views (above) of Tarxien, a prehistoric site dating from 3000 - 2500BC. Little is known about these earliest inhabitants of Malta, but they likely came from Sicily around 5000BC. They raised cereals and livestock and worshipped a type of mother goddess. The temples have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The large stone block at right was probably an altar. | |
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| Two views (above) of Marsaxlokk, a small fishing town facing an eponymous bay on the east side of the island of Malta. The design of the fishing boats dates from Phoenician times, and features painted "eyes" on either side of the bow to ward off evil spirits. | |
Upscale condos and vacation flats line the shoreline along St Julians Bay, a short distance from Valletta. |
Unlikely friends share a virtual ride in St Julians. |
Map courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online. For a more detailed map of Malta, click here (note: page may be slow to load as file is quite large). |
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