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Malta


Grand Harbour Marina, Senglea, Valletta, Malta
Valletta, Malta's capital seen from the Upper Barrakka Gardens with Grand Harbour Marina in Birgu (left) and Senglea (Città Invicta) to the right.
Image: Berit Watkin

 
Location map of Malta. Where in the Mediterranean is Malta
Location map of Malta


Malta Flag
Flag of Malta

Malta in brief


Destination Malta, a Nations Online country profile about the small archipelago steeped in history in the Mediterranean and one of the smallest countries in Europe.
The island group is situated east of Tunisia and about 100 km (60 mi) south of the island of Sicily (Italy).

Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, consists of the main island Malta and the smaller islands of Gozo and Comino. The country covers an area of 316 km²; compared, it is about twice the size of Washington, DC, and would fit into Luxembourg eight times.

Malta has a population of 515,000 people (in 2020). The island nation is in the Top10 of the most densely populated countries in the world. The capital city is Valletta on the island of Malta. Spoken languages are Maltese and English.



What is Malta famous for?
Malta is a popular tourist destination and known for its warm climate and breathtaking landscapes that serve as locations for major film productions.
The archipelago is home to some of the oldest temples in the world, such as the Megalithic Temples of Malta.
The medieval capital Valletta is the site of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Barrakka Gardens.

Dolphins, sea lions and other marine life populate the famed natural beach of the Blue Lagoon on the West coast of Comino.

 
Republic of Malta | Repubblika ta' Malta



Background:
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 its history, the Maltese archipelago was always strategically significant for the domination of the Mediterranean. Malta became an EU member in May 2004.

Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in the early 19th century. The island supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. On 13 December 1974, Malta became a republic. Over the last 15 years, the island has become a main freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a popular tourist destination.

 



Country Profile

Official Name:
Republic of Malta
Repubblika ta' Malta
short form: Malta


Time:
Time zone: Central European Time (CET)
Local Time = UTC +1h (summer +2h)
Actual Time: Sun-Mar-17  19:23

Country Calling Code: +356

Capital City: Valletta
ISO Country Code: mt, MLT

...show more





Official Sites of Malta


Façade of the Auberge de Castille in Valletta
Façade of the Auberge de Castille in Valletta, the building houses the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta.
Image: David Duff


Political system
Malta is a parliamentary republic; its government is modeled on the British Westminster system, with a mixed legal system of English common law and civil law (based on the Roman and Napoleonic civil codes).
Head of state is the President of Malta. The head of government is the Prime Minister.

Government

Note: External links will open in a new browser window.

Gvern Ta' Malta
The official website of the Maltese Government.

Il-President ta’ Malta
Official website of the President of Malta.

Office of the Prime Minister
Official website of Malta's head of government.

DOI - Department of Information - Malta
Provides the public with information on Government policies, services and activities.


Il-Ministeru ta' l-Affarijiet Barranin ta' Malta
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Diplomatic Missions
Permanent Mission of Malta to the UN
Mission of Malta to the United Nations in Geneva.
Malta's Diplomatic and Consular Representation
Address list of Maltese Diplomatic Missions abroad.
Diplomatic and Consular Representation in Malta
Address list of foreign Diplomatic Missions in Malta.


Statistics
National Statistics Office - NSO
Malta in figures.

Weather
Malta Weather
Weather Reports and Forecasts for Malta.

 

 


Maps of Malta



Maps


Map of Malta
Political Map of Malta.
Google Earth Google Earth Malta
Searchable map and satellite view of Malta.
Google Earth Google Earth Valletta
Searchable map and satellite view of Malta's capital.


Map of the Mediterranean Sea
Political Map of the Mediterranean region.
Map of Europe
Political Map of Europe.

 

 


News of Malta



Newsstand

Online News from Malta


iNewsMalta (L-Orrizont)
Malta daily news (in Maltese)

The Malta Independent Daily
Malta news.

Malta Today
Regional News.

The Times & The Sunday Times
Up-to-date news from Malta.

TV
Television Malta (TVM)
Government owned national broadcaster.
 

 


Arts & Culture of Malta


St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, detail from a tomb slab
St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, detail from a tomb slab.
Image: Myriam Thyes


Arts & Culture



Arts Council Malta
Arts Council Malta (ACM) is the national agency for development and investment in the cultural and creative sectors.

Carnival in Malta and Gozo
Celebrating Il-Karnival.

Festivals Malta
Festivals in Malta.

Malta Libraries
Portal site to the National Library of Malta, the Malta Public Library, and the Gozo Public Library.

National Archives of Malta
The National Archives of Malta.

Traditional fishing boat from Malta
A traditional fishing boat from the Maltese islands.
Image: Franck Ruffiot

MaltaCulture
Portal for Malta related arts and culture.

Malta Libraries
This site links you to the libraries of Malta.

The National Museum of Fine Arts (closed)
The Museum had a collection of paintings by Mattia Preti. The collection was moved and put on display in the new National Museum of Art, MUŻA.
(The National Museum of Fine Arts was closed permanently in October 2016)

Valletta Contemporary Gallery
Private contemporary art institution in Valletta.

Heritage Malta
The national agency for museums, conservation practice and cultural heritage. The agency is in charge of the National Museum of Archaeology, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Palace Armoury, the Fort St Elmo - National War Museum, and many other cultural institutions.
 
 

 


 


Business & Economy of Malta


Grand Harbour Marina at Il Birgu or Città Vittoriosa
Grand Harbour Marina at Il Birgu or Città Vittoriosa.
Image: Berthold Werner


Business & Economy

Central Bank of Malta
Malta's Central Bank

Malta Enterprise
Invest in Malta. A government's agency focused on attracting investment and supporting enterprises in Malta.

Malta Chamber of Commerce
Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise. Malta's official business portal.


Transportation
Airlines
Air Malta P.L.C.
Air Malta is the national airline of Malta, based in Luqa.

Airport
Malta International Airport
Malta's International Airport is the only airport in Malta, located near Valletta.


Port
Malta Freeport
Malta Freeport is a major maritime transhipment logistic centre in the Mediterranean region.
 

 


 


Tourism in Malta



Għasri, Gozo, Malta
Għasri, a village in the western part of the island of Gozo, seen from the Citadel in Victoria.
Image: Balázs Sudár


Destination Malta - Travel and Tour Guides


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Discover the Maltese archipelago: the islands of Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminotto and Filfla.
Links to accommodation, hotels, attractions, festivals, events, tourist boards, cruising, diving, tours and much more.


Visit Malta
Everything about the Maltese Islands - Malta, Gozo and Comino.

Malta Tourism Authority
Travel and tourism information by the National Tourism Organisation.


Visit Gozo
Information about the island by the Gozo Tourism & Economic Directorate.

Viewing Malta
Internet photogallery of Malta.

Il-Bizzilla
The inflight magazines of Air Malta.

Wikivoyage Logo Wikivoyage: Malta
A Wikivoyage guide to Malta in many languages.


View on Valletta from Fort Manoel
View of Valletta from Fort Manoel, to the left is the bell tower of St Paul's Pro-Cathedral and the dome of Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Image: Myriam Thyes
 


 


 


UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malta

Model of the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, Malta
A model of the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, the neolithic necropolis in Paola, Malta.
Image: Heiko Gorski
 

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malta

There are three UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malta, and seven sites inscribed on the Tentative List, an inventory of those properties which a State Party intends to consider for nomination. (see UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in Malta)


World Heritage Site Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
The enormous subterranean structure was used as an underground cemetery between 4000 BC and 2500 BC.


World Heritage Site City of Valletta
The capital of Malta was founded in 1566 by the Knights of St John. The fortified city is home to more than 300 monuments, including the Cathedral of St John, the Palace of the Grand Master, the Auberge de Castile et Léon, the Auberge de Provence, the Auberge d’Italie, the Auberge d’Aragon, and the Infirmary of the Order and the churches of Our Lady of Victory.


World Heritage Site Megalithic Temples of Malta
The remains of seven prehistoric temples at six locations. The temples on Gozo and Malta are among oldest free-standing stone structures in the world, older than the pyramids of Egypt.

 

 


Education in Malta



Old University Building in Valletta, Malta
The Old University Building in Valletta.
Image: Continentaleurope


Institute of Tourism Studies ITS
The institute offers training and qualification for the Hospitality and Tourism Industry.

Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology
Official website of MCAST.

University of Malta
The University of Malta traces its origins to the founding of the Collegium Melitense in 1592.
 
 

 


Environment & Nature



View of Xewkija on Gozo island, Malta
View of Xewkija on Gozo island. The Rotunda of Xewkija definitely dominates the landscape.
Image: Cleide Isabel


Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Official website of the ministry, with a wealth of information about the aim of Malta to solve local and int'l environmental tasks.

Environmental NGO's of Malta
BirdLife Malta
Society for the protection of birds and natural habitats in Malta. Partner of BirdLife International.
Greenpeace Mediterranean
Mediterranean section of Greenpeace.
Nature Trust (Malta)
Official website of Nature Trust (Malta), an NGO for the conservation of Maltese nature by promoting environmental awareness, managing areas of natural and scientific interest, and lobbying for effective environmental legislation.

Nature
Discovering Malta's Flora and Fauna
Site with photo galleries of flora and fauna found in the Maltese Islands, created by Aron Tanti.
MaltaWildPlants.com
Site about the flora of Malta.
 

 


Malta History



The Siege of Malta - Capture of Fort Saint Elmo by Matteo Perez d'Aleccio
The Siege of Malta - Capture of Fort Saint Elmo.
Painting: Matteo Perez d'Aleccio (1547–1616)


Malta History
Articles and index of sites related to Malta's History.
Malta Through The Ages
Information about the History of Malta by the Maltese Government.
Timeline History of Malta
Timeline of Maltese History.

The Maltese Nobility website
Site about Nobility in Maltese History.
Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem
Catholic Encyclopedia: History of the Knights of Malta.

The Temples of Malta
World Heritage Prehistoric Monuments.

The Malta National Museum of Archaeology
The museum's collection includes objects from the prehistory and early history of the Maltese islands.

National Archives of Malta
The archives aims to preserve the collective memory of the Maltese nation.
 
 

 


Additional Information


Selected country profiles of Malta published by international organizations.


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Amnesty International: Malta
Amnesty International is a non-governmental organization focused on human rights.

BBC Country Profile: Malta
Country profiles by the British public service broadcaster.

The Commonwealth: Malta
The Commonwealth Member countries: Malta

EU Member Countries: Malta
EU member countries in brief, Malta.

FAO: Malta
UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

GlobalEDGE: Malta
About Malta from Global Business Knowledge Portal.

The Heritage Foundation: Malta
Index of Economic Freedom by The Heritage Foundation, an American conservative think tank.

Human Rights Watch: Malta
HRW conducts research and advocacy on human rights.

OEC: Malta
The Observatory of Economic Complexity provides the latest trade data.

Reporters Without Borders: Malta
RSF (Reporters sans frontières) is an international NGO that defends and promotes media freedom.

Wikipedia: Malta
Wikipedia's Malta page in many languages.

The CIA World Factbook -- Malta
The CIA World Factbook's Malta Page.

 

 



 
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