Malta

General | For the Tourist | Brief History | Towns and Cities | Package Holidays

General Information

Size 316 sq km
Capital Valletta
Primary Language Maltese, and English
Telephone IDD Code +356
Domestic Electricity Supply 230 Volts AC 50Hz
Time Zone GMT+1
Currency Maltese lira
Currency Code MTL
Internet Country Code mt
Banking Hours 08.30 a.m. to 12.30 pm Monday to Friday. On Saturday banks close earlier at around 11:30
Credit Cards Access, American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club International, MasterCard and Visa are all accepted by most shops, restaurants and Hotels.
Shopping Hours 9.00 am. to 1.00 pm. then between 4.00 pm. to 7 pm

The Maltese Archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, with Malta being 93kms south of Sicily and 288kms north of Africa, while
Gibraltar is 1,826kms to the West and Tel Aviv is 1,940kms to the East. 

 

Apart from Sunbathing there is a lot of things to do in Malta

General | For the Tourist | Brief History | Towns and Cities | Package Holidays

Malta for the Tourist

Megaliths, medieval dudgeons, and caves you will find parts of Malta mythic. Some of the towns retain their original character with narrow cobblestone streets and churches with some baroque palaces. Searching outside the towns you find some of the oldest structures known to man. The Dolmen hotel in Qawra for example has within it's grounds the ancient remains of a Neolithic temple.

You will either love Malta or else hate it. There seems to be no 'Well it is ok'. From my own viewpoint I like Malta and the people.

The people of Malta are generally very friendly and most speak very good English. Only the odd one or two only speak Maltese. A lot of Italian words are also being added to the Maltese language along with English words already there. Listening to the taxi drivers speak to the controller in Maltese you cannot help but pick up these borrowed words or phrases.

The best way to travel around Malta (and perhaps the cheapest) is by the old buses. Some of these are relics from the 50's with crash gear boxes, air conditioning is dependant upon how many windows are open. Take my advice and get a weekly ticket for around LM6.00 which excellent value.

Driving in Malta is really strange. Although they drive on the left they may sometimes drive on the right (Yes strange) Roundabouts seem to have rules that involve the vehicle you are in. Buses either on or entering the roundabout have priority, followed by mini-buses, taxis, local cars and last but not least the tourist in cars that are often identified by yellow registration plates. Speed is not really an issue since the roads are poor and there are no motorways so you are unlikely to want to go fast.

Although Malta is only small, the drink prices can vary considerably from place to place. Bars that a frequentented by the locals generally have the lowest prices.

The Maltese word for rain is Xita and is pronounced Shita. A man with a bald head is called something that is pronounced as fartarse. There are many other Maltese words that when spoken sound like English swear words and most Maltese will in good humour tell you these.

General | For the Tourist | Brief History | Towns and Cities | Package Holidays

 

General | For the Tourist | Brief History | Towns and Cities | Package Holidays

 

Brief History of Malta

5200BC is believed to have seen Malta inhabited

Around 1000BC the Phoenicians colonized the islands

736BC the Greeks moved in and called the colony Melita

400BC and the islands came under the control of Cathage

218BC came Roman rule

Saint Paul on is way to Rome was allegedly shipwrecked at Malta on February 20 AD60 and went to Rabat where he held a sermon. The people on neighbouring Gozo also heard the sermon being preached. Thus the people of Malta became Christians.

The 4th to the 9th century saw Malta under Byzantine rule

AD 870 and the Arabs came and conquered and introduced the arabic language that is the basis of Maltese spoken today.

AD 1090 saw the Arabs ousted by Sicilian Normans

The Aragonese took control around 1287.

From around 1287 the Maltese nobility was established

In 1530 the Knights of the Order of Saint John moved to Malta.

Napoleon on a ruse kicked out the Order and looted the movable assets.

The Maltese people asked the British for help and in 1800 the island became a British protectorate.

1814 as part of the Treaty of Paris Malta became a member of the British Empire.

King George VI of England awarded the George Cross to the "Island Fortress of Malta" in 1942.

September 21 1964 saw Malta gain independence from Britain.

December 13 1974 and Malta became a republic and thus had a President as the head of state.

March 31 1979 saw the last British Forces withdrawn from Malta

May 1 2004 and Malta joins the European Union

Unlike many countries Malta seems to have kept it's history alive in the buildings.

General | For the Tourist | Brief History | Towns and Cities | Package Holidays