Photo: zx6r92/DepositPhotos
Malta is one of the ten smallest countries in the world and is right in the middle of the two major continents of Europe and Africa, whose news naturally overshadows that of this tiny nation in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.
Photo: Nick Fewings
In 1987, Malta joined the European Union, which concluded in 2004. Malta adopted the Euro as its currency in 2008. English is the lingua franca and an official language.
Photo: Mike Nahill
Malta is highly urbanized, with up to 35% of the islands’ land area being developed. In fact, in the post-war era and with a boom in population, the small towns around the harbor area have merged into a single large metro area.
Photo: Zoltan Tasi
Malta’s capital city is a unique destination many travelers will appreciate. Valletta is a great day trip for sightseeing, offering some fantastic dining options and an entire history of a country at your fingertips, with museums, palaces, and even underground tunnels beneath the city.
Photo: Nick Fewings
The old capital of Malta, Mdina, also called the ‘silent city,’ is a tiny walled city sitting atop a hill in the center of the island of Malta. Most recently famous for its starring role in Game of Thrones (season 1), Mdina is the traditional seat of nobility in Malta, with gorgeous squares, quaint tearooms, and beautiful houses.
Photo: Mike Nahill
While Malta has changed drastically over the last decade, the smaller sister island of Gozo still has a rural and parochial charm. Firstly, the landscape is quite different from Malta, with a lot more hills and greenery. It is also much more sparsely populated and has some of the top tourist sites.
Photo: Humphrey Muleba
Photo: Mike Nahill