Tourist Travel Information about Malta
Malta is an archipelago comprised of 7 islands. The two biggest islands are Malta and Gozo; they are also the only islands that are inhabited. The third largest island, Comino, features just one luxury vacation resort, and the remaining islands are uninhabited. Malta sits about 50 miles south of Sicily, Italy.
While it is one of the most isolated spots on the Mediterranean, there’s evidence that suggests that civilizations have been living in Malta since the early Neolithic period of 5000 BC. The terrain is mostly low with the highest point, Ta’ Dmejrek (near Dingli), being only 253m above sea level. It is rocky, flat to dissected plains, with a coastline that has many coastal cliffs and numerous bays that provide good harbors.
Following 150 years as a British colony, Malta gained state independence in 1964, became a republic in 1974 and later part of the European Union in 2004. Victoria, the capital of Gozo, is also known as Rabat. It’s famous for its beautiful Cittadella, which goes way back to the Middle Ages.
Valletta, its current capital, is one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world, according to UNESCO, and a spot worth visiting if you are traveling to Malta.