An archipelago consisting of three main islands, Malta is strategically situated in the centre of the Mediterranean roughly equidistant between Port Said in Egypt and Gibraltar and between Southern Europe and North Africa. It is found approximately 93 km south of Italy and 290 km north of Africa. Although this Mediterranean country has a total area of a mere 316 square km, with the longest distance being 27 km in length and 14.5 km width, it is very densely populated with approximately 400,000 inhabitants.

Malta boasts of a unique history where one can find a rich myriad of archaeological sites, cultural monuments and ancient architecture. Among these monuments are the unique Neolithic Temples which are scattered throughout both Malta and Gozo. Throughout its history, Malta has been occupied by various powers namely the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Aragonese, the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, the French and the British. Various historical sites like Mdina and Valletta are spectacular evidence of the bygone eras of Maltas rich and chequered history.

Following the expulsion of the Knights in 1798 and the French cession of the Island to the British two years later, Malta remained a British colony until independence in 1964. Ten years later in 1974, it was declared a Republic by the Maltese Parliament. Thereafter, as an independent state and Parliamentary democracy with a ceremonial Presidency, it slowly but surely gauged itself towards the European mainland, ultimately becoming a member of the European Union in May 2004.

The climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average temperature ranges from 49ºF in February to 87ºF in August.

The Maltese Islands attract and welcome significant numbers of tourists every year. Maltese people are known for their traditional hospitality and for the fact that most Maltese are bi-lingual. Indeed, both English and Maltese are considered official languages and all laws and official publications are published in both languages. So too, most business and commercial transactions are conducted in English. A significant number of Maltese also speak Italian, and many are fluent in other European languages such as French and German.

Furthermore, Malta boasts of a highly skilled and educated workforce with many individuals securing a higher education or technical training at a young age. Some youngsters seek to travel in order to gain experience within different working environments and cultures, with the ultimate aim of returning to Malta and applying their knowledge in an innovative manner.

Roman Catholicism is the national religion of Malta. A very small percentage of the population practices other faiths.

For more information about Malta http://www.visitmalta.com/index.html
(maintained by the Malta Tourism Authority)