GEOGRAPHY

The Maltese archipelago is situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, with the largest inhabited island, Malta, lying 93km (180miles) from North Africa, Gozo and Comino are the only other inhabited Islands. Known as the Jewel of the Mediterranean the landscape of all three is characterised by low hills with terraced fields. Malta has no mountains or rivers. Its coastline is indented with harbours, bays, creeks, sandy beaches and rocky coves. Complimented with deep blue waters Gozo is connected to Malta by ferry and is more thickly vegetated, with many flat-topped hills and craggy cliffs. Comino, the smallest Island, is connected to Malta & Gozo by ferry and is very sparsely populated. The Maltese Islands enjoy a healthy climate that of year round sunshine with mild winters and hot summer seasons. Cold winds, snow, frost and fog are unknown. Rainfalls between September and April. It seldom rains after April, and nearly never in Summer time. The temperature averages 57.5 degrees Fahrenheit in winter (Nov-Apr) and 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer (May-Oct). The hottest period is from mid-July through mid-September although he islands seldom get too hot, as hot summer days and nights are regularly tempered by cool sea breeze. There are no mountains or rivers. The majority of fields are small and terraced, but despite lack of rain and other adverse terrain conditions, agriculture is well developed.

BRIEF HISTORY

For 7000 years the Islands attracted visitors with different cultures, who left their influences rich in heritage one can experience the voyage through times in every Town & Village.

The first Maltese were Stone Age farmers who came from Sicily about 4,000 B.C. They maintained trade links with their original homeland. Later they built magnificent stone Temples dedicated to a Mother Goddess of Fertility.

About 2,000 B.C. came Bronze-Age warriors from Southern Italy and supplanted to farmer population. These warriors left walled settlements and the cart-ruts spread all over the Island.

By 8,00 B.C. came the Phoenician merchants who colonized the island. These settlers were peaceful and clever traders and are known as Punic in origin. The Maltese probably are the descendants of much Punic stock.

These peaceful settlers were conquered by the Romans about 218 B.C. and Malta came to form part of the Roman Empire. The Maltese were all treated by the conquered and eventually become Roman citizens with a measure of autonomy.

The Island become Christian in 60 A.D. with the shipwreck of St.Paul's in the coast of Malta. Remains from this period, mostly around the Rabat - Mdina area, testify to a leisured and cuttered class of Maltese citizens.

The Arabs took over as conquerors in 870 A.D. and Christianity petered not until it surfaced again with the coming of the Normans in 1090 and 1127. With these new conquerors Malta came to form part of the province of Sicily and underwent the same changes as the bigger Island neighbour seeing a chain of new conquerors such as the Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese and Castillins until the year 1530 when the order of the Knights of St.John were given the Islands of Malta and Gozo by the German Empire Charles V.

The Knights turned Malta into a small nations and gave it a great heritage in palaces, churches and defences which are still in existence today. The victory over the Lurks in 1565 marked a new begining for Malta as a European and Christian Island.

The state of affairs came to an end with the conquest of the island by Napoleon in 1798 and the consequent ousting of the French by the British in 18814. Malta became a part of the great British Empire until it became a totally independent and Sovereign state in 1964, and a Republic in 1974. Today it forms part of the European Union which with will officially join on 1 may 2004.

VALLETTA THE CAPITAL

Population 7146 (1997) located in south east of Malta and was built on a hill called Mount Sciberras by the knights of Malta in the 16th Century. The richest in heritage, rich in architecture and unique buildings thus complimented with the natural Grand Harbour, make the city one of its kind. Besides a great number of shops, one can find the Parliament, Law Courts and Government Departments.

AREA

316 sq km (122 sq miles)

POPULATION DENSITY

1189.0 per sq km. Spread in towns and villages especially in the south.

CHARACTER

Friendly, very warm, amicable, helpful, courteous, tolerant. The Maltese love visitors and make sure that they make you feel at home.

RELIGION

Roman Catholic; However one can find other churches and Mosque of other denominations so that non-maltese can practice their religion freely

LANGUAGE

Maltese (a semetic language), English and Italian are widely spoken.

CURRENCY

Euro

HEALTH

Government Mater Dei Hospital. National Health Service (free of charge)- Health agreements with many countries. Private Hospitals and Private Health Cares exist on the Island.

SPORTS

Mainly Football, Yachting, Water polo, Basket ball, Golf, Scuba Diving.

INDUSTRY

Tourism.

GOVERNMENT

Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1964. Head of State President. Head of Government : Prime Minister. The recent Major political issue is that Malta became a member in the European Union as from the 1st of May 2004.

TIME

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last)

ELECTRICITY

240 volts AC, 50Hz. UK style 3-pin plug are in use.

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone; IDD is available. Country Code; +356. Outgoing International Codes; 00. Public Telephone Booths are widely available. Mobile telephone; Dual band network with extensive coverage of land and sea.

GOZO, OR GHAWDEX (awdesh)

as it is locally known lies about 20 minutes away by ferry. Measuring about one third the size of Malta and has a character quite distinct from Malta; it is primarily a fishing and farming community and the countryside is greener and more spectacular. Its main historical attractions are the Megalithic Temples of Ggantija which according to the latest analyses, date back to around 4000years BC.

FERRY SEVICE

The Gozo channel company operates an all year round ferry service between Cirkewwa Malta and Mgarr Gozo. Journey time is approximately 20 minutes.

TRAVELLING

By air Malta International Airport : Luqa -Air Malta / Lufthansa / Alitalia / British Airways / Ryanair / Easy Jet. Operating daily to Europe, Far East, North America and North Africa. By sea Cruise Liners, ships operate daily schedules, Catamarans.

TRANSPORT

Private car, public transport (yellow buses) at very low rates, taxi services. No trains or underground trains are found on the Island.

DRIVING

Left -speed limit outskirts 60 KMS speed limit town 35KMS.

EDUCATION

State schools- free. The university of Malta runs a wide range of degree courses. Selection of private schools.

The Maltese Tradition, culture, blended with hospitality make these islands a perfect and unique retirement haven for the Golden Age.