Which might not be surprising, considering that the area of the whole country is only km 2 sq mi. The capital of Malta is Valletta and it is a city full of history and events.
Valletta is not the biggest city in Malta. Valletta was established in the s by the knight of St. John , a roman catholic order. The biggest city of Malta is Birkirkara and second-biggest is Qormi. Malta is in the Mediterranean sea located at about 60 nautical miles south of Sicily. Malta is not a volcanic island but it is mostly rocky. The locals often refer to the island as the rock.
Due to its rocky nature, the island does not have a lot of soil and therefore, not that much agriculture. Most of the products, as well as electrical energy, are imported from Sicily. Malta is a small country filled with interesting things to see. Its history is old and interesting and is now adapting to becoming a very multicultural community. Its architecture makes this place unique and worth visiting.
The oldest free-standing buildings in the world are in Malta. Geologically Malta is the result of the uplift of the Sedimentary rocks between Sicily and North Africa. The dramatic landscape of the cliffs has attracted many cinematographic productions to Malta.
Malta is known for its hospitality. Indeed Historically Malta has always welcomed different nations. Integration in the Maltese society today is pretty straight forward due also to the fact that English here is a second official language which makes things much easier for foreigners and tourists. The first language in Malta is Maltese and people are proud of its own language and try to preserve it from being forgotten.
The Maltese language is a mix of three different elements, the main is that of Arabic, Italian has a huge influence as well and so does English. One can notice other influences on the language such as the in the word Bongu and Bonswa which are coming from the French Language. The Maltese language is considered to be the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet.
The language shows the history of the island, more than being preserved, all the different nations that in the past, conquered the island, left a little influence in the language. Malta attracts a million tourists every year. It is famous for its climate with about days of sunshine and warm sea that allows swimmers to enjoy the Maltese coasts and sunbath possibly until December. Some times even the whole year-round. The food in Malta is of excellent quality. As you can expect, being an island, the fish was the primary survival food in history.
However, the very traditional dishes would almost never have fish: Maltese Rabbit stew , Hobza biz zejt , Gbejniet , Maltese sausage and more. Many of these can be tried at the restaurant or bought at the grocery shops. The cuisine has also had a lot of influence from its history, it is a very interesting mix of Mediterranean cuisine with a taste of spiciness coming from the Arabic influence.
The Dingli Cliffs are the cliffs on the southern coast of Malta. The view from these cliffs is fascinating. Great to visit at sunset to see the sun going down towards Africa.
The Three cities Birgu, Senglea and Vittoriosa are the fortified cities that are an example of the authentic life of the Maltese islands. Gozo island being smaller and therefore much quieter than Malta is a perfect stop for those who desire a bit of relaxation being emerged in the untouched nature. Particularly beautiful is the capital of Victoria and the beaches of Gozo. Megalithic Temples are the oldest free-standing building in the world.
Even older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge are a magic stop for history lovers. Malta is the largest and southernmost of the three major islands. It totals a land area of square kilometers and lies in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, directly south of Italy and north of Libya.
This island is home to the capital city Valletta. The Malta island is commonly referred to as Valletta to distinguish the island from the entire country. Gozo is the second largest and northernmost of the three major islands with a total land area of 67 square kilometers.
Comino, formerly named Ephaestia, is the smallest and least populated of the three major islands, measuring 3. They required a city nearby their fleet, so they fortified Birgu and made it the administrative capital of Malta.
Valletta was officially proclaimed the capital city of Malta on 18 March Building a city on the same peninsula as Fort St Elmo would ensure a better defence of the peninsula, the two harbours, the Three Cities of the Knights: Birgu, Bormla and Isla, and the whole island. Fort St Elmo had successfully held off the first attacks for several weeks, winning the Knights valuable time. But when the Ottomans conquered it, they could find safety for their galleys within the Grand Harbour.
Believing the Ottomans would return, the Knights set out to build the capital city immediately after their departure. Grand Master La Valette himself laid the first foundation stone of Valletta on 28 March and the city would bear his name. Grand Master La Valette envisioned the city as a hub of political, economic and cultural activity in 16th century Europe.
It would be a place in which trade, handicrafts and the arts would flourish. And it would possess unique features that would make it stand out from other European cities. So he engaged prominent architects and engineers to design the city. Indeed, Laparelli and Girolamo Cassar designed a 16th-century fortified city unlike any other. Its waste disposal and drainage system would prevent decay. Its unique grid design would counteract the stifling heat by allowing the sea-breeze to flow naturally through the city.
And its high buildings and narrow streets would keep the city mostly shaded. The new city design also included insurmountable bastions and a large ditch that separated it from the mainland. Today, the Renaissance city, with its auberges, palaces and fortifications, bears testimony to a bygone time.
Alongside contemporary life, the city verily showcases years of history on every street. Effectively an open-air museum, Valletta is brimming with ornate baroque architecture, various monuments and infinite curiosities; many date to its illustrious founders from the 16th century while several embellishments were added during the 18th century. The beauty, historic value and fascination that tie in with Valletta are invaluable and indescribable.
The city is truly a unique gem of both the Maltese Islands and the world in general. Valletta is the smallest capital city in Europe with a surface area of just 0. Only the Vatican City is smaller at 0. Despite its compact proportions, Valletta encapsulates an extraordinary wealth of civil, religious, artistic and military treasures.
Although there are specifically named monuments, there is literally something of interest in every nook and cranny. From the baroque architecture and art to the curious sloping streets, your eyes will feast wherever they glance. The shallow steps leading from the harbours to the city centre were designed for men in clunky suits of armour.
A scattering of original 16th-century Auberges and palaces showcase the extraordinary beauty of the Renaissance city. And then there are the gardens spilling over magnificent fortifications with stunning harbour views.
The Knights of St John did not hold back when it came to embellishing their churches, palaces and Auberges.
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