The most densely bombed place during World War II, a mix of European and Middle Eastern language and culture, fought over for centuries due to its strategic position, only home to around 460,000 people; and the birthplace of my grandparents – Malta. This small island nation, a speck on the world map, is somewhere most people have heard of but never been. Rich in history and tradition, Malta is home to some the most hospitable people, ancient monuments, and beautiful landscapes and water. It is a country worth discovering and exploring.
HISTORY
Malta is located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and Libya, and is the smallest member of the European Union. It was first inhabited in 5,900BC and visitors can gaze in awe at the UNESCO recognised ancient megalithic temples of Hagar Qim which date back to around 3,500BC. St Paul shipwrecked on Malta in 60AD while on course to Rome and brought Christianity to the island. It still has a strong religious faith, with magnificent churches and widely celebrated feast days.
Malta was conquered in 870AD by the Arabs. It was then conquered by the Normans, the Aragonese and was basically a part of Sicily. It wasn’t until 1530 that Charles V bequeathed Malta to the Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Repelling an invasion from the Ottoman Empire in 1565, the famous Knights of Malta led the islands through an age of great development. Jean Parison de La Valette, the hero of the great siege, laid the foundation stone of the capital which would take his name, Valletta. However, the Order was forced to leave Malta when Napoleon conquered the islands in 1798. The Order never returned and have remained in Rome till today. In 1800, the British forced the French out and administered Malta.
During British rule, Malta became the headquarters of the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet before being moved to Egypt in 1937. Due to its location near Italy and in the middle of the Mediterranean trade route, Malta was constantly attacked during the Second World War. There were over 15,000 tonnes of bombs and over 3,300 air raids on a population of just 270,000. For their valour in repelling the invaders, Malta was awarded the George Cross in 1942. Till today, this is still on the flag.
After integration with the UK was rejected by the British Government, Malta was made independent in 1964. In 1974, Malta was declared a republic under PM Dom Mintoff. It eventually joined the European Union in 2004 and adopted the Euro in 2008.
CULTURE
Malta’s history of various invasions and conquerors means it has a diverse culture. Due to immigration from Egypt, Italy, Greece, Libya, and other Mediterranean countries over the past two centuries, Malta mixes the best of various societies. Maltese traditions and architectures are a permanent stamp of the melting port it is for the region.
This island nation also has a strong tradition for festivals that occur throughout the year. An example is Carnival which occurs every February in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday with children in bright costumes while colourful floats process down Valletta. Some Carnival goers, still in their costumes, then flock on Paceville, the night club capital of the country, to continue celebrating the festivities.
Malta’s food is simply incredible. Malta’s national dish is often claimed as rabbit stew. However, it is more well-known for pastizzi: fine pastry filled with ricotta or other fillings. As a Mediterranean country, Malta has an abundance of fresh seafood which is on show at the Marsaxlokk Sunday fish market. The island nation also has the greatest pasta (that’s right Italy) with ravjul and imqarrun. There are so many amazing dishes it’s too hard to list them all. Just be prepared to come back a little heavier after spending a week there.
WHAT TO SEE
For such a small place, there is so much to do and see. Only 316km2 in land size, Malta is densely populated and home to some of the most exquisite architecture in Europe.
The capital Valletta is a beautiful city while incorporating modern features. The city gate was rebuilt in a modern style in 2014 along with the new Parliament. However, other buildings such as the Grandmaster’s Palace remain the same, preserving the famous baroque style of the city. The Grand Harbour of Valletta also provides for beautiful views, which is complemented by the greenery of the Lower Barrakka Gardens. Sadly, the war tarnished the capital, destroying the Royal Opera House which was reopened as an open-air theatre only a few years ago.
In Malta, there is a saying that there is a church for everyday of the year. The main churches to visit would be St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta and Mosta Church. The former is the main church in the capital which was commissioned by La Valette. It is ornately decorated in the Baroque style. The latter, Mosta Church, is home to the third largest rotunda in the world. During a mass in 1942, a 200kg bomb smashed through the dome but failed to explode and did not harm any of the 300 people. This was seen as a miracle by the people of Malta.
Malta’s medieval history is best seen in Mdina, a fortress city. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the city was founded by Phoenicians in the eighth century and includes St Paul’s Cathedral, catacombs and dungeons. It also serves as the namesake for Mdina Glass, manufacturers of famous Maltese glassware. A similar site is the Cittadella in Gozo which has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Atop the city of Victoria, it too provides vast views of Gozo and Malta while serving as a good example of older fortifications. On the UNESCO list since 1998, it was recently restored so to preserve its unique features.
Malta has beautiful natural landmarks which should not go unnoticed. This includes the Blue Lagoon and the vast beaches and coast. The northern island of Gozo used to be home to the Azure Window, a natural arch in the ocean. Featured in Game of Thrones, it was destroyed during high waves and strong winds in 2017. Even so, there are various gorgeous beaches which are incredible in for a holiday in summer, including Melliha Bay and Golden Bay in the island’s north. These are not to be missed.
LANGUAGE
The Maltese language is one of the most unusual languages in Europe. Due to its proximity to Italy and occupation by the Arabs, Maltese is a combination of Arab and Italian. It also incorporates a variation of French and English words. This makes Maltese quite unique as many native speakers have the aptitude to understand Arabic and to some extent Italian.
This was the focus of Vlogger Nuseir Yassin’s video of Malta which led to a tourism campaign #OhMyMalta that included figures such as Malta’s President and a large event with one-thousand people at the city gate of Valletta. So if you go to Malta, listen carefully to the language and pick out the similarities.
POLITICS
As previously mentioned, Malta has been a republic since 1972. As a parliamentary democracy, it has a president who is appointed by the parliament. This is currently George Vella who commenced his term in April of this year. Although appointed, these people are usually former politicians, with President Vella being a former foreign minister, deputy PM, and former deputy leader of the Maltese Labour Party.
The current PM is Joseph Muscat, who has served in the office since 2013. As leader of the Labour Party, his government controls 37 of the 65 seats in the Maltese Parliament. During his term in office, his government has remained relatively popular although there was criticism of his lack of action after the car bombing of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in 2017, a critic of his government.
BEAUTIFUL ALL YEAR ROUND
My grandparents at a young age taught me about why Malta is so special. From their various stories, I was enthralled by this dynamic country. As a child I don’t think I appreciated the country as much as I do now. After visiting and learning more about the history I realise how special it is. No other speck on the world map can claim to have such a rich culture and long history. If you like rich history, beautiful churches, good food, and relaxing beaches, Malta is the place to be.
