About Malta
Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean, one of the world's smallest and most densely populated countries. Its strategic location has made it a prize for great powers throughout history, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, and the British. Most famously, it was the stronghold of the Knights of St. John (Knights Hospitaller) for over 250 years, who built incredible fortifications and cities that remain largely intact today.
The capital, Valletta, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a masterpiece of the Baroque, described as "a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen." The island is an open-air museum, home to the megalithic temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, which predate the Egyptian pyramids. The honey-colored limestone architecture gives the towns a warm, golden glow against the deep blue sea.
Despite its size, Malta boasts a vibrant culture with year-round village religious festivals (festa) featuring fireworks and brass bands. The nearby islands of Gozo and Comino (home to the Blue Lagoon) offer more rural and tranquil escapes. With English as an official language and a climate of endless sunshine, Malta remains a favorite European cultural destination.
The Republic of Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1964 as a Commonwealth realm under Queen Elizabeth II, and became a full republic within the Commonwealth on 13 December 1974 with a directly elected head of state. Malta joined the European Union on 1 May 2004 and adopted the euro as its sole legal-tender currency on 1 January 2008 at a fixed conversion rate of 0.4293 Maltese lira per euro. The Maltese economy has expanded dramatically since EU accession, driven by financial services, online gambling (regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority since May 2001), maritime bunkering off Marsaxlokk harbour and cruise-ship tourism through the Grand Harbour of Valletta, which handled roughly 890,000 cruise passengers in 2023 across 356 individual port calls.