The impermeable blue clays provide two distinct water tables between the limestone formations—the perched and the mean sea-level aquifer. [279], The next generation of writers, including Karl Schembri and Immanuel Mifsud, widened the tracks further, especially in prose and poetry. TVM, TVM2, and Parliament TV are operated by Public Broadcasting Services, the national broadcaster, and members of the EBU. Get directions, maps, and traffic for Malta, NY. The capital of Malta is Valletta, which is the smallest capital city in the European Union. The bus service underwent an extensive reform in July 2011. Its roots can be traced back to the pagan Roman feast of Luminaria (literally, "the illumination"), when torches and bonfires lit up the early summer night of 29 June. [87] Malta was declared a county and a marquisate, but its trade was totally ruined. The Azure Window arc along the coastline, which collapsed in 2017, on Gozo island, Malta. [286] In 2018 the national collection of fine arts was moved and put on display in the new National Museum of Art, MUŻA, located at Auberge d’Italie in Valletta. It has been a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations since independence, and joined the European Union in 2004; it became part of the eurozone monetary union in 2008. View Full Profile Commando From 1883 to 1931 Malta had a railway line that connected Valletta to the army barracks at Mtarfa via Mdina and a number of towns and villages. The island-state of Malta is located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy), it consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino, of which Malta is the largest island. In the 2nd century, Emperor Hadrian (r. 117–38) upgraded the status of Malta to municipium or free town: the island local affairs were administered by four quattuorviri iuri dicundo and a municipal senate, while a Roman procurator, living in Mdina, represented the proconsul of Sicily. In 1942 the island of Malta was presented with the George Cross, a British award for great gallantry, in recognition of the wartime bravery of the Maltese people. There is a strong wine industry in Malta, with significant production of wines using these native grapes, as well as locally grown grapes of other more common varietals, such as Chardonnay and Syrah. Malta, island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. The Roman period introduced highly decorative mosaic floors, marble colonnades, and classical statuary, remnants of which are beautifully preserved and presented in the Roman Domus, a country villa just outside the walls of Mdina. It was established by the Central Bank of Malta Act on 17 April 1968. A question asked by many as it is a known fact that Malta is still a relatively well kept secret! [185], Currently,[when?] [33] Punic influence, however, remained vibrant on the islands with the famous Cippi of Melqart, pivotal in deciphering the Punic language, dedicated in the 2nd century BC. As a base for alternative asset managers who must comply with new directives, Malta has attracted a number of key players including IDS, Iconic Funds, Apex Fund Services and TMF/Customs House. [65], During the First Punic War, the island was conquered after harsh fighting by Marcus Atilius Regulus. Former Ambassador of Malta to France. [305] Satellite reception is available to receive other European television networks such as the BBC from Great Britain and RAI and Mediaset from Italy. The island of Malta specifically played a vital strategic role in World War II as a base for the Allied Powers. However, no Maltese hospital has undergone independent international healthcare accreditation. Originally, Mnarja was celebrated outside St. Paul's Grotto, in the north of Malta. Malta's old-age-dependency-ratio rose from 17.2 percent in 1995 to 19.8 percent in 2005, reasonably lower than the EU's 24.9 percent average; 31.5 percent of the Maltese population is aged under 25 (compared to the EU's 29.1 percent); but the 50–64 age group constitutes 20.3 percent of the population, significantly higher than the EU's 17.9 percent. Some living trees date back to the 1st century A.D. Maltese sand crocus, commonly encountered on the Maltese steppe, which is endemic. As a direct result, a significant level of uncertainty exists among expats in Malta as to whether their financial situation on the island will remain affordable in the years going forth, with many already barely living paycheck to paycheck and others re-locating to other European countries altogether. [119], General Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois surrendered his French forces in 1800. The Mater Dei Hospital, Malta's primary hospital, opened in 2007. [88], A mass expulsion of Arabs occurred in 1224, and the entire Christian male population of Celano in Abruzzo was deported to Malta in the same year. [259][260], In January 2014, Malta started granting citizenship for a €650,000 contribution plus investments, contingent on residence and criminal background checks. [262], Concerns as to whether the Maltese citizenship scheme is allowing an influx of such individuals into the greater European Union have been raised by both the public as well as the European Council on multiple occasions. [77] During the Migration Period as the Western Roman Empire declined, Malta came under attack and was conquered or occupied a number of times. This included il-ġilwa, which led the bride and groom to a wedding ceremony that took place on the parvis of St. Andrew's Chapel. [66] In 533 Belisarius, on his way to conquer the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa, reunited the islands under Imperial (Eastern) rule. The President of Malta, a largely ceremonial position, is appointed for a five-year term by a resolution of the House of Representatives carried by a simple majority. In recent years, Malta has advertised itself as a medical tourism destination,[225] and a number of health tourism providers are developing the industry. [74], In the 1st century BC, Roman Senator and orator Cicero commented on the importance of the Temple of Juno, and on the extravagant behaviour of the Roman governor of Sicily, Verres. Malta’s capital is a remarkable place. In 1479, Malta and Sicily came under Aragonese rule and the Alhambra Decree of 1492 forced all Jews to leave the country, permitting them to take with them only a few of their belongings. Malta is situated about 80km South of Sicily (Italy), 284km East of Tunisia and 333 km North of Libya. The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon record that in 451 AD a certain Acacius was Bishop of Malta (Melitenus Episcopus). Over 50,000 people attended, which marked the biggest attendance so far.[300]. [203], The two largest commercial banks are Bank of Valletta and HSBC Bank Malta, both of which can trace their origins back to the 19th century. Human settlement and construction developments have altered the distribution and composition of soils. [246] As recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul spent three months on the island on his way to Rome, curing the sick including the father of Publius, the "chief man of the island". Omissions? The archipelago is located on the African tectonic plate. Due to system reforms, no elections were held before 2012. The Knights' presence on the island saw the completion of many architectural and cultural projects, including the embellishment of Città Vittoriosa (modern Birgu), the construction of new cities including Città Rohan (modern Ħaż-Żebbuġ) . The only census year showing a fall in population was that of 1967, with a 1.7 per cent total decrease, attributable to a substantial number of Maltese residents who emigrated. Third Edition. [241] The hybrid character of Maltese was established by a long period of Maltese-Sicilian urban bilingualism gradually transforming rural speech and which ended in the early 19th century with Maltese emerging as the vernacular of the entire native population. A heliport is also located there, but the scheduled service to Gozo ceased in 2006. [83], The Christians on the island were allowed to practice their religion if they paid jizya, a tax for non-Muslims for exemption from military service, but non-Muslims were exempt from the tax that Muslims had to pay (zakat). Of the estimated 3,000 Muslims in Malta, approximately 2,250 are foreigners, approximately 600 are naturalised citizens, and approximately 150 are native-born Maltese. [206], Traffic in Malta drives on the left. Malta became independent on 21 September 1964 (Independence Day). The main physical characteristic of the island of Malta is a well-defined escarpment that bisects it along the Victoria Lines Fault running along the whole breadth of the island from Point ir-Raħeb near Fomm ir-Riħ Bay to the coast northeast of Għargħur at Madliena Fort. [280], Maltese architecture has been influenced by many different Mediterranean cultures and British architecture over its history. This is a belief that Malta shares with many other Mediterranean cultures. This civic pride manifests itself in spectacular fashion during the local village festas, which mark the day of the patron saint of each parish with marching bands, religious processions, special Masses, fireworks (especially petards) and other festivities. [84], The Normans attacked Malta in 1091, as part of their conquest of Sicily. The uplands are separated from the surrounding areas by blue clay slopes, while an undercliff area is found where the coralline plateau has fallen and forms a subordinate surface between the sea and the original shore. This migration was driven pre-dominantly at a time where the Maltese economy was steadily booming yet the cost and quality of living on the island remained relatively stable. [76], In 395, when the Roman Empire was divided for the last time at the death of Theodosius I, Malta, following Sicily, fell under the control of the Western Roman Empire. Sunshine duration hours total around 3,000 per year, from an average 5.2 hours of sunshine duration per day in December to an average above 12 hours in July. Only 1km by 600m, with every street leading to the sea, the walled fortress city contains a harmonious ensemble of 16th- and 17th-century townhouses fronted by traditional Maltese balconies. The highest point in Malta is Ta' Dmejrek, at 253 m (830 ft), near Dingli. Consisting of several islands including Malta, Gozo, Comino, Filfla and Cominotto, the country has a population of just over 400,000. A volunteer organization, Alarm Phone, on Sunday morning said the dinghy was overcrowded and taking in water. Most congregants of the local Protestant churches are not Maltese; their congregations draw on the many British retirees living in the country and vacationers from many other nations. It ultimately rejected an attempted integration with the United Kingdom in 1956 after the British proved reluctant to integrate. [209] To this day they are depicted on many Maltese advertisements to promote tourism as well as on gifts and merchandise for tourists. [32] The ancient Greeks called the island Μελίτη (Melitē) meaning "honey-sweet", possibly for Malta's unique production of honey; an endemic subspecies of bees live on the island. Their descendants account for about two-thirds of the community of some 4,000 Catholics that now live on that island. [66] After the failure of his expedition, the island fell back in the hands of Carthage, only to be conquered again in 218 BC, during the Second Punic War, by Roman Consul Tiberius Sempronius Longus. The largest city in the country is Birkirkara. Widnet il-baħar, or Maltese rock-centaury, is the national flower of Malta. As of recently, digital banks such as Revolut have also increased in popularity. The collective award remained unique until April 1999, when the Royal Ulster Constabulary became the second – and, to date, the only other – recipient of a collective George Cross. A mayor and a deputy mayor are elected by and from the councillors. Endemic plants include the national flower widnet il-baħar (Cheirolophus crassifolius), sempreviva ta' Malta (Helichrysum melitense), żigland t' Għawdex (Hyoseris frutescens) and ġiżi ta' Malta (Matthiola incana subsp. [citation needed] Due to bilingualism half of the newspapers are published in English and the other half in Maltese. Malta is a republic[25] whose parliamentary system and public administration are closely modelled on the Westminster system. Traditionally, grooms would promise to take their brides to Mnarja during the first year of marriage. However, by 1613 the focus of the festivities had shifted to the Cathedral of St. Paul, in Mdina, and featured torchlight processions, the firing of 100 petards, horseraces, and races for men, boys, and slaves. Amongst all capitals in the continent of Europe, Valletta – the capital of Malta has the warmest winters, with average temperatures of around 15 to 16 °C (59 to 61 °F) during the day and 9 to 10 °C (48 to 50 °F) at night in the period January–February. Non-religious people have a higher risk of suffering from discrimination, such as lack of trust by society and unequal treatment by institutions. [19] Its location in the centre of the Mediterranean[20] has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base, with a succession of powers having contested and ruled the islands, including the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Knights of St. John, French, and British. [62] The Phoenicians inhabited the area now known as Mdina, and its surrounding town of Rabat, which they called Maleth. Buses (xarabank or karozza tal-linja) are the primary method of public transport, established in 1905. [168] According to European Spatial Planning Observation Network, Malta is identified as functional urban area (FUA) with the population of 355,000. [230] A preliminary report was issued in April 2006 and the results were weighted to estimate for 100 percent of the population. [231] The Maltese-resident population for 2004 was estimated to make up 97.0 per cent of the total resident population. [156], The average annual sea temperature is 20 °C (68 °F), from 15–16 °C (59–61 °F) in February to 26 °C (79 °F) in August. Ships stopping at Malta's docks for refuelling helped the Entrepôt trade, which brought additional benefits to the island. [48], Pottery found by archaeologists at the Skorba Temples resembles that found in Italy, and suggests that the Maltese islands were first settled in 5200 BC mainly by Stone Age hunters or farmers who had arrived from the Italian island of Sicily, possibly the Sicani. [157][158][159], The annual average relative humidity is high, averaging 75%, ranging from 65% in July (morning: 78% evening: 53%) to 80% in December (morning: 83% evening: 73%).[160]. b.c. [192] The current financial incentives to foreign productions as of 2015 stand at 25 per cent with an additional 2 per cent if Malta stands in as Malta; meaning a production can get up to 27 per cent back on their eligible spending incurred in Malta. There is a high number of daily or weekly newspapers; there is one paper for every 28,000 people. [94], Relatives of the Kings of Aragon ruled the island until 1409 when it formally passed to the Crown of Aragon. The atmosphere of religious devotion is preceded by several days of celebration and revelry: band marches, fireworks, and late-night parties. Valletta is the capital city of the country Malta, which is located in the Mediterranean and forms part of Europe (and a member state of the European Union). In 2016, Malta had 0.6 global hectares of biocapacity per person within its territory, contrasted with a global average of 1.6 hectares per person. Its capital Valletta, a lively, bustling city with many buildings dating back to the 16th century, teems with cathedrals, palaces and forts. Muslim rule ended with the Norman invasion of Malta by Roger I in 1091. The number of registered cars in 1990 amounted to 182,254, giving an automobile density of 577/km2 (1,494/sq mi).[207]. [301], The most widely read and financially the strongest newspapers are published by Allied Newspapers Ltd., mainly The Times of Malta (27 percent) and its Sunday edition The Sunday Times of Malta (51.6 percent). Additionally, a number of individual towns and villages in the Republic of Malta have sister cities. It is surrounded by Italy to its north and Libya to its south. p. 518; Sil. [25][26], Malta is a tourist destination with its warm climate, numerous recreational areas, and architectural and historical monuments, including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni,[27] Valletta,[28] and seven megalithic temples which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.[29][30][31]. Our island is in the center of the Mediterranean Sea and is the southernmost European country. The islands of Malta are dominated by limestone formations, and much of their coastlines consist of steep or vertical limestone cliffs indented by bays, inlets, and coves. The absence of permanent streams or lakes and a considerable runoff into the sea, however, have made water supply a problem, which has been addressed with an intensive reverse-osmosis desalination program. Malta: Progress Press, p.37-38. Malta has three large natural harbours on its main island: There are also two man-made harbours that serve a passenger and car ferry service that connects Ċirkewwa Harbour on Malta and Mġarr Harbour on Gozo. For a long time it remained solely a fortified garrison. (1987) The Story of Malta. The coast of Malta features many bays and ports. Orkida piramidali ta' Malta, Maltese Pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis subsp urvilleana) is endemic and rare on the islands. The shipwreck is said to have occurred in the place today known as St Paul's Bay. Each council is made up of a number of councillors (from 5 to 13, depending on and relative to the population they represent). [1] This widespread knowledge of second languages makes Malta one of the most multilingual countries in the European Union. Malta conducts a census of population and housing every ten years. On 31 March 1979, Malta saw the withdrawal of the last British troops and the Royal Navy from Malta. Although the event was not highly advertised, and was controversial due to the closing of an arterial street on the day, it is deemed to have been successful and will most likely be organised every year. [242][243][244], Maltese Sign Language is used by signers in Malta. [302], There are eight terrestrial television channels in Malta: TVM, TVM2, Parliament TV, One, NET Television, Smash Television, F Living and Xejk. Malta, island country located in the central Mediterranean Sea. Regional Maps: Map of Europe There are a number of small political parties in Malta which have no parliamentary representation. [189] The film Sons of the Sea was the first shot in Malta, in 1925;[190] by 2016, over 100 feature films had been entirely or partially filmed in the country since. Gozo remained independent until Cassar was removed from power by the British in 1801. [237] In 2012, 25.8 per cent of births were to unmarried women. Malta is currently undergoing several large-scale building projects, including the construction of SmartCity Malta, the M-Towers and Pendergardens, while areas such as the Valletta Waterfront and Tigné Point have been or are being renovated.[282]. [149] The archipelago is located on the African tectonic plate. The knights, led by Frenchman Jean Parisot de Valette, Grand Master of the Order, withstood the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottomans in 1565. Officially, it is a national festival dedicated to the feast of Saints Peter and St. Paul. [181] The flora and biodiversity of Malta is severely endangered by habitat loss, invasive species and human intervention.[182]. However, since Malta joined the EU in 2004 expatriate communities emerged in a number of European countries particularly in Belgium and Luxembourg. The Muslim rule was ended by the Normans who conquered the island in 1091. Early on in the Aragonese ascendancy, the sons of the monarchs received the title Count of Malta. The Muslim chronicler and geographer al-Himyari recounts that in 870, following a violent struggle against the defending Byzantines, the Arab invaders, first led by Halaf al-Hadim, and later by Sawada ibn Muhammad,[81] looted and pillaged the island, destroying the most important buildings, and leaving it practically uninhabited until it was recolonised by the Arabs from Sicily in 1048–1049. Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. [citation needed]. [33], The kingdom passed on to the dynasty of Hohenstaufen from 1194 until 1266. In 2009 the first New Year's Eve street party was organised in Malta, parallel to what major countries in the world organise. [129], Malta achieved its independence as the State of Malta on 21 September 1964 (Independence Day) after intense negotiations with the United Kingdom, led by Maltese Prime Minister George Borġ Olivier. [90][91], For a brief period, the kingdom passed to the Capetian House of Anjou,[92] but high taxes made the dynasty unpopular in Malta, due in part to Charles of Anjou's war against the Republic of Genoa, and the island of Gozo was sacked in 1275. Malta is a set of islands located in the Mediterranean Sea on the continental platform between Sicily and North Africa. The card was initially not well received, as reported by several local news sites. In the 2015 edition of the annual Freedom of Thought Report from the International Humanist and Ethical Union, Malta was in the category of "severe discrimination". [180] They feature many traits typical of a Mediterranean climate, such as drought resistance. About Malta : Officially known as the Republic of Malta, it is a Southern European island country which comprises an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. Remnant forest of Ballut (Quericus ilex) in Wardija. Maltese legislation recognises both civil and canonical (ecclesiastical) marriages. [213] The company took over the bus service on 8 January 2015, while retaining the name Malta Public Transport. A number of regional variations, particularly with regards to Gozo, can be noted as well as seasonal variations associated with the seasonal availability of produce and Christian feasts (such as Lent, Easter and Christmas). Population growth has slowed down, from +9.5 per cent between the 1985 and 1995 censuses, to +6.9 per cent between the 1995 and 2005 censuses (a yearly average of +0.7 per cent). The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km north of Africa. Malta wa… In recent years however the local Maltese housing index has doubled[256] pushing property and rental prices to very high and almost unaffordable levels in the Maltese islands with the slight exception of Gozo. There are remains of Neolithic culture antedating 2000 b.c., and also traces of a Bronze Age culture from about the 14th cent. [158][161] This is about double that of cities in the northern half of Europe,[original research?] St. Catherine's High School, Pembroke offers an International Foundation Course for students wishing to learn English before entering mainstream education. [145], As a military organisation, the AFM provides backup support to the Malta Police Force (MPF) and other government departments/agencies in situations as required in an organised, disciplined manner in the event of national emergencies (such as natural disasters) or internal security and bomb disposal. The festival is usually held in the last week of April every year. The island of Malta possesses favourable conditions for the percolation and underground storage of water. The culture of Malta reflects the various cultures, from the Phoenicians to the British, that have come into contact with the Maltese Islands throughout the centuries, including neighbouring Mediterranean cultures, and the cultures of the nations that ruled Malta for long periods of time prior to its independence in 1964.[278]. [98][99][100][101][102][103][104] These knights, a military religious order now known as the Knights of Malta, had been driven out of Rhodes by the Ottoman Empire in 1522. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. They lie on the submerged Malta-Hyblean Platform, a wide undersea shelf bridge that connects the Ragusa Platform of southern Sicily with the Tripolitana Platform of southern Libya. Today, Malta has both a public healthcare system, known as the government healthcare service, where healthcare is free at the point of delivery, and a private healthcare system. Grand Master Hompesch capitulated, and Napoleon entered Malta. These may have been caused by wooden-wheeled carts eroding soft limestone. Gozo has a gentle easterly dip, so the lower coralline limestone, which forms high cliffs on the west coast, declines to below sea level but reappears on the east coast at Qala Point. Malta’s main power station is located there and Oiltanking Malta Ltd. also operates from Marsaxlokk. Since then, elections have been held every two years for an alternating half of the councils. [289], A 2010 Charities Aid Foundation study found that the Maltese were the most generous people in the world, with 83% contributing to charity. Ital. The early Christian frescoes that decorate the catacombs beneath Malta reveal a propensity for eastern, Byzantine tastes. They also established watchtowers along the coasts – the Wignacourt, Lascaris and De Redin towers – named after the Grand Masters who ordered the work. [272], Malta has a long history of providing publicly funded health care. In the coldest month – January – the typical maximum temperature ranges from 12 to 18 °C (54 to 64 °F) during the day and minimum 6 to 12 °C (43 to 54 °F) at night. Malta: Progress Press, p.37. It was besieged by the Axis powers during World War II and was an important Allied base for operations in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Maltese is a Semitic language descended from the now extinct Sicilian-Arabic (Siculo-Arabic) dialect (from southern Italy) that developed during the Emirate of Sicily. As of 2006[update], state schools are organised into networks known as Colleges and incorporate kindergarten schools, primary and secondary schools. In its history, the Maltese archipelago was always strategically significant for the domination of the Mediterranean. [67][68] Also the local Roman coinage, which ceased in the 1st century BC,[69] indicates the slow pace of the island's Romanization, since the last locally minted coins still bear inscriptions in Ancient Greek on the obverse (like "ΜΕΛΙΤΑΙΩ", meaning "of the Maltese") and Punic motifs, showing the resistance of the Greek and Punic cultures. Only the three largest islands – Malta (Malta), Gozo (Għawdex) and Comino (Kemmuna) – are inhabited. [232], All censuses since 1842 have shown a slight excess of females over males. [citation needed], Traditionally, Maltese newborns were baptised as promptly as possible, should the child die in infancy without receiving this vital Sacrament; and partly because according to Maltese (and Sicilian) folklore an unbaptised child is not yet a Christian, but "still a Turk". The sixth form course lasts for two years, at the end of which students sit for the matriculation examination. ", "Renaming Malta the Republic of Phoenicia", "Roman Times – History of Malta – Visit Malta", "The House of Aragon and Malta: 1282–1412", "La cesión de Malta a los Caballeros de San Juan a través de la cédula del 4 de marzo de 1530", "LA SOBERANA ORDEN DE MALTA A TRAVÉS DE DIEZ SIGLOS DE HISTORIA Y SU RELACIÓN CON LA ACCIÓN HUMANITARIA", El halcón maltés regresará a España dos siglos después, "La verdadera historia del halcón maltés", "El Rey volverá a tener otro halcón maltés en primavera", "The French in Malta 1798 – 1800 : reflections on an insurrection", "Napoleon's bedroom at Palazzo Parisio in Valletta! Religion in Malta that has shared our community supernatural events our island is mentioned at the end of the.... [ 304 ] for reference the latest census counts 139,583 households in Malta as July., Filfla and Cominotto, the Emergency Fire & Rescue Unit ( E.F.R.U percent... 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