Living in Malta

Geography and climate

Malta is a small archipelago of five islands (Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminotto, and Filfla) which are situated in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Malta and Gozo are the largest of the islands and house the majority of the population. Comino, nestled between Malta and Gozo, is the only other inhabited island, supporting a very small population.

The islands enjoy a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers, warm autumns, moderately wet and cool winters, and mild springs. Summer temperatures average around 30°C (86°F), while winter sees a somewhat cooler average of 12°C (54°F). Frost and snow are rare in winter, and summers are long and very sunny. Winds can be strong at times, and rain often falls in brief but heavy showers.

Leisure

Wherever you are on Malta, you’re not far from the sea. During summers the sea temperatures make for very comfortable bathing conditions, and entice one to take a dip. Malta has rocky and sandy beaches, and some stunning scenery.World famous natural landmarks like The Blue Grotto and The Blue Lagoon are a mecca for those enchanted by the beauty of our planet.

History

The many historical artifacts and locations around Malta tell a tale of thousands of years of invasion and habitation. From the mysterious Hypogeum on the main island to the Giant’s Temple on Gozo, everywhere you look history is waiting to be told. Indeed, standing on any of the natural rocky promenades, one can feel a deep connection to the stories of the past. Legend places Gozo as the home of Calypso, who kept an enchanted Ulysses for seven years, and Christian lore pinpoints the islands around St Paul’s Bay as the place where St. Paul was shipwrecked, bringing Christianity to the people of Malta.

The islands have been the focus for centuries of much wrangling by foreign sea-powers, wanting to use the islands’ central location as a base from which to defend and further their reach.

The island is famous as a home of the Knights Hospitallers, their history giving rise to the world-famous Maltese Cross, and the construction of the world’s first planned city, Valletta, its streets wide and straight and without the small winding streets and alleys so common in cities. It boasts many palaces and even more churches.

In more recent times, Malta attained independence in 1964 from British rule, becoming a republic in 1974. Malta is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and has been a member state of the European Union (EU) since 2004, and adopted the Euro on the first of January 2008. It is currently the smallest EU country in terms both of population and area.

Lifestyle

In January 2007, International Living chose Malta as the country with the best climate in the world and recently the World Health Organisation classified Malta as the second safest country in Europe.