Malta Tourist Attractions

Malta Tourist Attractions include history, culture, the arts, beautiful beaches, religion and many other activities. If you are spending your holidays in Malta this year, spend a few minutes getting to know some basic information on the Maltese Islands and its various popular Towns & Villages.

Malta and Gozo are truly two magnificent Islands, and both are rich in their own history and culture, with laods of tourist attractions around the islands. Places that you should try and fit in your itenary include a visit to Mdina (known as the silent city), St John's Co Cathedral, The Upper Barakka Gardens, The Palace State Rooms, Lascaris War Rooms and the War Museum in Valletta, Fort Rinella in Kalkara, Fort St Angelo and the Inquisitor's palace in Vittoriosa, The Roman Villa in Rabat, and the Hagar Qim Temples in Qrendi which is a UNESCO world hertitage site. Heritage Malta is a great resource to find detailed information and the best attractions on the Islands of Malta and Gozo.

Malta and Gozo are famous for their ancient history, actually predating history due to the evidence of some colossal and well-preserved stone Temples from prehistoric times, some of these being dated older than the Pyramids of Egypt. But their fame is also due to the Two Great Sieges, one in 1565 when the Turkish Empire with all its might could not conquer little Malta, with its tall bastions, the brave Knights of St John and the local people whose support and determination were crucial; the other momentous event being the Second World war (1939 -1942) when Malta's successful stand-off against the aggressive and fearful airplane attacks, contributing in a massive way towards the final armistice, with Malta's people besieged, hungry but proudly helping the Allies to victory.

Malta was governed over the centuries by several super powers including the Romans, the Byzantines, the Angevins, the Castillians, the Arabs, the Normans, the Kingdom of the two Sicilies, the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Napoleonic French and the British. Independence within the British Commonwealth came on 21st September 1964.  Malta was declared a Republic on 13th December 1973, but British influence is still very evident. English is registered as an official language together with its native Maltese. In May 2004 Malta joined the European Union, another important date in its long and chequered history.

Today, Malta is the third most densely populated country in the world. Its natural resources are nearly non existent, except for the famous golden limestone used for our buildings. We produce only 20% of our food requirements and have no domestic energy sources. The main industries of the Maltese Islands are Tourism, Construction, Agriculture and various small industries. with Information Technology and Telecommunications are becoming  really active industry today.

The MALTESE ISLANDS are Malta, Gozo, Comino, Filfla and Fungus Rock. Only the first three are inhabited, but the other two are well known for their flora and fauna. The main Islands however are MALTA and its sister island, GOZO. Malta is virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean 93km south of Sicily and 288km north of Africa. Population is approximately 412,000, with twice as many (and more) first and second generation Maltese having settled in several areas, notably in the UK, Australia, Canada, United States, Italy and elsewhere. 

Malta is a nation state, and these Islands are Members of the United Nations, European Union, the British Commonwealth of Nations, the Council of Europe, and several other important treaty organisations. Malta and Gozo have political, social and commercial relations with several countries and contributes people skills and know-how in many fields.