Malta Island

The state of Malta is not only an island, it is an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. It includes: the largest island of Malta, small Gozo, and Comino and three more small islands-rocks, which bear the Italian names of Cominotto, San Paolo and Filfla.

"Malta" means "refuge" or "safe haven". Since ancient times, a variety of peoples have lived here: Phoenicians, Normans, Arabs, Romans, English and French. Majestic temples made of stone blocks remained from the indigenous inhabitants of the island. Until recently, the Egyptian pyramids were considered the oldest structures. But modern archeological research has proven that the Maltese sanctuaries are a thousand years older.

In 1530, the Roman emperor Charles gave the island of Malta to the Order of St. John, so that they fought against the infidels. Since that time, the knights of this order of St. John have been called the "Knights of Malta". They managed to turn the barren rocky island of Malta into an impregnable fortress and put an end to the dominance of Turkish troops in the Mediterranean.

And only Napoleon in 1798 captured Malta and disbanded the powerful order. For their own salvation, the Knights of Malta elected Emperor Paul I as their head. The aspirations of the knights for the return of the island did not come true.

The influence of the Catholic religion and the militant order is still felt here. The people of Malta are very religious, so tourists should not walk around in very short skirts and very revealing swimwear.

There are a lot of churches on the island of Malta. Almost every one of them is associated with a miracle. For example, in the church of St. Paul, the bomb that fell into it did not explode. The clocks on all Maltese churches and temples have two dials, one of which shows the correct time, the other is wrong, in order to confuse the devil.

Небольшой остров Гозо называют еще островом нимфы Калипсо. По легенде здесь находится пещера, где побывал Одиссей. На острове сильны местные традиции. Например, помолвка, здесь длится не менее трех лет, а свадьба жителя – это праздник для всех, причем венчание проводится только в центральной церкви Святой Виктории.

The islands of the Maltese archipelago are simply a paradise for diving enthusiasts. But lovers of lying on the sandy beach are not lucky, the beaches of Malta are completely covered with stone. Although swimming and diving are the most popular activities here. A visit to the Maltese Islands will cost you a lot, but an unforgettable experience will pay off all the costs.