A brief history - Malta is steeped with a rich history spanning over the earliest days of civilization up to the present times. Before it's Independence in 1964, Malta was under British rule for over 160 years which is why the Maltese people embraced English as its second language. Two periods in Malta's history stand out from the rest are the Neolithic period and the period of the Knights of St. John. The Neolithic temples on Malta are about 1000 years older than the famous pyramids of Giza. The earliest temple is found in Ggantija in Gozo . It still remains a mystery how these enormous rocks were moved or even lifted 5000 or 6000 years ago. After the Turks, under Suleiman the Magnificient ousted the Knights of St John out of Rhodes, the Knights needed a new homeland and, in 1530 moved to Malta to which they were given tenure by Emperor Charles V. The Turks, wanting to destroy the Order completely, and needing a base to attack Southern Europe, set out with a strong fleet to drive the Knights out of Malta. This was known as the Great Seige of Malta in 1565. the Knights stood firm and finally won.Mdina, the once capital city of Malta was replaced by the still present capital-Valletta,by the Knights. Napoleon then took over Malta in 1798 on his way to Egypt. A siege that did not see any bloodshed, and which lasted till the arrival of Nelson in 1800 who managed to drive the French garrison out of Malta and seek protection under the British Throne.

Malta Statistics

Population - 370,000

Airport - Malta International Airport

Geographical size - 30.0 km x 14.0 km

Gozo Statistics

Population- 28,000

No airport (Heliport)

Geographical size - 9 km x 9 km

Special Events

February 22nd -26th Carnival Week

March 29th - Apr.4th Holy Week

June - July Maltafest

July - Malta Jazz Festival

Sept - 21st Independence Day

Religion
It is a fact that Malta has 360 churches and wayside chapels all over the island. It is hardly surprising that the Maltese are quite famous for their religious devotion. Before the arrival of St Paul (believe to have been shipwrecked at St Pauls Bay) the local civilization's principal deity was the so-called "goddess of fertility".

The conversion of the Maltese people was not sudden or by any way a simple process, as for a while paganism and the Christian faith co-existed.

It was only on the arrival of The Knights that Christianity flourished amongst the Maltese, when the largest number of churches were built.