Malta is a southern European country officially known as the Republic of Malta.It is situated in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya, east of Tunisia, and a mere 80km south of Italy. If you want to live in these Mediterranean islands, here are a few interesting facts about Malta that you should know:
The Parish Church of the Assumption, or the Rotunda of Mosta or the Mosta Dome, is the third largest unsupported dome in the world. It is located in the heart of the city of Mosta and was built between 1833 and the 1860s. During WWII, a German bomb dropped through the dome and into the church, which was filled with about 300 parishioners at the time. The bomb did not explode and not a single person was injured. The Maltese regard it as a miracle.
The Maltese islands are a former British colony, having gained independence in September 1964 and becoming a republic in 1974.
Driving is on the left-hand side of the road because of the British influence in the islands. There are also loads of roundabouts for the same reason
Along the coastline, there are multiple sunken World War II ships, which make Malta a popular scuba diving destination.
The initial name of Malta by ancient Greeks and Romans was 'Melita,' which means island of honey.
Maltese is the national language and English is an official language of Malta. Maltese is a beautiful language that sounds primarily Arabic, with many other linguistic influences as well, especially Italian.
Traditional fishing boats are called Luzzu. They are painted with bright colours and a pair of eyes, which act as a protection against the evil spirit. This has been a tradition in Malta since the ancient times of the Phoenicians.
The Megalithic Temples of Malta are several prehistoric temples, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Built approximately between 3600 BC and 700 BC, they have been claimed as some of the oldest freestanding structures on Earth.
The capital city of Valletta was named after Jean Parisot de Valette, a Grand Master of the Knights of St John. He was Grand Master during the Great Siege of 1565 and then designed the new capital city and oversaw its construction. He died of a stroke before the city was completed. There is a statue dedicated to him in Valletta today.
Malta has been the backdrop for many very popular movies and TV series. Season 1 of Game of Thrones shot many scenes in the Maltese islands. Troy, Gladiator, World War Z, Captain Philips, The Count of Montecristo, and the live action Popeye with Robin Williams were all filmed in Malta. Popeye Village still stands completely intact today and is one of Malta's most popular tourist sites.
Malta is believed by some to be the hidden city of Atlantis!
The most popular Maltese pastry is called 'Pastizzi'. They are filled with local ingredients, but mostly with ricotta cheese and peas. Pastizzi can be found in every village and city of Malta.
Malta's Grand Harbour is one of the best natural deep-water harbours in the world. Its protective depths and premier location in the Mediterranean were highly sought after territory to claim, thus the variety of invading groups over the centuries.
The University of Malta is one of the oldest universities in Europe and was founded in 1592.
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
