The Maltese Islands lie 58 miles (93km) south of Sicily, 230 miles (368km) north of Tripoli and 180 miles (288km) east of Tunis. Malta is only 17 miles (27km) by 9 miles (14.5km) with an area of 95 square miles (246km). (In comparison, Manhattan island in New York City is 2 and a half by 12 and half miles.) Gozo is 9.5 by 4 miles. Comino is only one square mile.
Malta is a fascinating blend of history, sunny holidays and hospitality. The colorful past of the Islands ranges from its earliest inhabitants, who built temples there some 6500 years ago, to the arrival of the crusading knights in the Middle Ages and the full brunt of World War II hostilities four centuri es later. Added to the best climate in Southern Europe, it helps attract more than a million tourists to the islands each year.

The islands are ideal for sightseeing. History surrounds you in every town, with a wealth of palaces, churches and fortifications that have survived down the centuries. The top attractions include the capital city of Valletta, with its high ramparts, museums and shopping. The focal point of urban Malta stretches from Valetta to the resorts of Sliema and St Julian's, with their first class hotels and busy nightlife. The Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea and Kalkara) could not be more different. With their rich history, their historic sights and the quiet streets they are more representative of the Malta that people will love and remember.

The ancient walled city of Mdina dominates the center of the island, are area characterized by small towns and villages, each with an impressive church. In the south of Malta are the ancient temples and small fishing villages, while to the north is a tourist development sprawled around St Paul's Bay. The sandy beaches are also in the north.

Across the Comino Channel lies the smaller, greener island of Gozo and between them is the tiny Comino. Both are popular and appealing to the holiday traveler. The sea around the Maltese Islands is as clean and clear as anywhere in the Mediterranean. It is terrific for swimming and excellent for scuba diving, snorkeling and all water sports. Around the resorts there are plenty of boats, canoes and equipment for hire for windsurfing, sailing and waterskiing.

Boat trips operate around the islands and to Comino's spectacular Blue Lagoon. Cliff rising above 800ft (250m) characterize Malta's southern shore. Midway along the opposite coast are the impressive inlets of Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Bay. Malta puts it's seawater to practical use. Since the 1990's it has built a series of reverse osmosis seawater conversion plants around the island. They now fulfill more than half the island's freshwater needs and prevented water shortages in the country.

The climate is just about the best the Mediterranean can offer. The country's appeal as a year around resort owes much to the weather pattern. The hot summer sun from a cloudless sky gives way to mild winter days. The average for the summer is only 26C (79F). However, Malta is further south than parts of North Africa and so the sun burns quickly. The wind blows mostly from the northwest.

The islands offer contrasting scenery. There are no mountains or rivers in Malta. On higher ground, outcrops of limestone contribute to the island's rugged and semi-arid appearance. Lower down, rough limestone walls bounds small enclosures of reddish grown soil, which yield a surprising wide variety of crops.

These include potatoes, tomatoes, onions, capers, wheat, sesame and melons. Small plantations of olives, figs, oranges and lemons exist, but grapes are the main fruit grown. These are used to make the local wine, which is excellent. In the winter and spring, there are many wildflowers and glorious fields of color. More than 600 varieties carpet the valleys and ridges. There are few trees, however, since most were destroyed a long time ago to provide wood for ships and buildings.

While other Mediterranean holiday destinations have seen their fortunes come and go, Malta's popularity remains high. Tourism is the principal industry. The impressive Malta International Airport is able to handle 2.5 million departing passengers a year. A new cruise ship terminal in Valletta receives many cruise liners in the high season.

Maltese and English are the official languages. You will hear Maltese spoken everywhere, but virtually everyone speaks English. Almost all street signs are in Maltese, but most shops and businesses use English in advertising. Malta is a member of the European Union. As of January 2008, Malta now uses the Euro for currency.

PASTIZZI AND QASSATAT

Pastizzi are Malta's favorite snack. They are tasty, diamond-shaped pastry stuffed with ricotta cheese or a green pea mixture. Pastizzi stalls can be found everywhere, and virtually every old-fashioned bar will offer its own, homemade versions. Qassatat are similar to pastizzi but made of a lighter pasty and round in shape. These are eaten any time of the day and are absolutely addictive.

HOBZ BIZ-ZEJT

These are chunks of bread brushed with olive oil and topped with a mixture of roughly chopped tomatoes, onions and herbs. They were traditionally considered a humble snack, akin to Italian crostini, but have acquired a following in recent years and are served now in smart bars and restaurants as appetizers.

MALTESE BREAD

The Maltese make excellent bread. Most villages have at least one bakery, where you pick up delicious hobz (small soft rolls) or ftira (a ring shaped loaf that is similar in texture to Italian ciabatta.) There is nothing like the smell of the fresh, warm Maltese bread. It is said the best bread in the world comes from Malta and I totally agree.

GBEJNIET

These small round cheeselets are made from goat or sheep's milk. There are two common kinds: the plain, which is smooth and creamy, and the peppered version, which is piquant and perfect with the local crusty bread and a slice of tomato.

FENEK

Fenek (rabbit) is the most popular meat in Malta. It is prepared in countless ways, but the most common include rabbit stew made with wine and flavored with herbs, roast rabbit , fried rabbit or a dish of spaghetti with rabbit sauce.

TORTA TAL-LAMPUKI

This fish pie is made with lampuki, a prized local fish that is only available for a short period each year (usually from September to Novemeber). The pie combines the fish with vegetables, walnuts, olives and raisins, and is absolutely delicious.

SOPPA TAL-ARMLA

Maltese cuisine has many delicious soups, including minestra (vegetable soup) and the traditional soppa tal-armla (widow's soup). The name comes from the simple ingredients, which includes potatoes and other vegetables, then a dollop of ricotta cheese or gbejniet cheeselet.

BRAGIIOLI

These are "beef olives" similar to the Italian version. They are made using slices of beef or veal stuffed with a mixture of cheese, ham and herbs. They are then braised gently on the stove or in an oven.

QUABBAJT

This nougat type sweet is made with almonds and honey, and is traditionally eaten at festivals or special events. It is available year-round from stalls and local shops.

MQARET

These are pastry parcels filled with a date mixture and deep fried. They make the perfect snack and are delicious, but fattening. They are available at stalls.

OTHER FOODS THAT SHOULD NOT BE MISSED

• ALJOTTA

   A boiled fish soup with tomatoes and garlic

• ROSS IL-FORN

  A baked rice dish with minced pork, beef, bacon, eggs and ricotta cheese.

• STEWED OCTOPUS

  Octopus in a sauce of onions, tomatoes, olives and capers.

• SWORDFISH IN CAPER SAUCE

  Fried swordfish with a sauce of capers, tomatoes and onions.

• TIMPANA

  A golden brown bakes macaroni dish with minced beef and pork, eggs, cheese, chicken liver and bacon.

DRINKS IN MALTA

There are excellent Maltese wines. The local beer, CISK, is excellent and refreshing. There are also some local ales like Hopleaf Pale and Blue Label Ale, which are very popular. Maltese love tea and coffee. Both are usually served with milk. There are local liqueurs like Anisette, from the aniseed, and Bajtra, made from the prickly pear. The all time favorite drink is KINNIE.

This is a sofa drink, peculiar to Malta, and it is slightly bitter, fizzy and is flavored with orange and herbs. It's an absolute must to try since it's really not available anywhere but in the Maltese island and it is extremely popular. Most people prefer to drink bottled water, since most of the tap water in Malta is produced by a process that converts sea water into drinking water. The bottled water simply tastes better.

Hard Rock Cafes, Beach bars, Banging Nightclubs, Irish Bars just every type of themed and intriguing pub and club you could think off!! Paceville neighbours Party Village Bay Street. This newly built Party Complex is a must for all party goers, live mixes, roaring nightclubs, busy restaurants, and a jam packed beach is the daily scene here. The Cinema Complex and Bowling alley making this area Heaven in many people's eyes. The newly built shopping arcade itself is a reason to visit this area.

And then you travel just 10 minutes down the road, finding amazing family orientated night scenes baring karaoke bars and games rooms to entertain the younger tourists whilst the older tourists can relax and have a refreshing drink. Maltese laws state that Children under the age of 16 are allowed to stay in bars, most clubs and restaurants till closing hours. This being an advantage as there is nothing restricting the family from having as much fun as possible whilst on the Islands. A big family resort area in Malta is Buggibba, Buggibba is ideal for all families for numerous reasons. To start off, Buggibba is situated near the sea-literally 20m away from most hotels in the area. The beaches are both sandy and rocky in the area, to tend to Everybody's needs. There are also many shops in the area, from local souvenir shops to clothes shops, jewellers and mini markets! All of these open till past 10pm daily.

The area is inundated with restaurants of all types, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Turkish, Maltese anything you desire. Many restaurants are made with children in mind, having games rooms, and child play areas. Then other restaurants are adult orientated. Games Arenas are scattered throughout Buggibba, featuring Pool Tables, Air Hockey Machines, and many Arcade games, All are supervised, and many have their own bars. The Pubs in Buggibba are Great places to meet new people or just have a quiet Drink. With or without Children. Music is always playing, many times being live acts. There is still the Nightclub scene in Buggibba, open till the early hours of the morning. Yet again appealing to all natures of audiences. Cinema Complexes and Bowling Alleys are situated 5mins away from the promenade. The Great advantage with this Town is that it is right next to Gozo, and numerous boat trips leave from Buggibba to Gozo, Comino, and St Pauls Island. These all being must do expeditions for the area. The area is ideal for walking, large pavements, for safety, pedestrian only areas. The People in Buggibba and throughout Malta in general always make you feel happy and welcome.-They do not understand the meaning of the word rude, or impolite.

For the More mature people there are towns like Sliema and St Julians. Quieter holiday resorts, still packed with everything you could need to have an amazing night out, just quieter, more relaxing, and the cherry on the cake being that this harbour town overlooks the capital city, and at both day and night, this stunning view itself, is one of a kind. St Julians is home to the Portomaso Resort, -The Hilton Malta. This is the home to numerous celebrities including Paul Scholes.

A new Complex that has been Built in Malta is the Malta Waterfront. This stunning complex is a restored Victorian fish Market, on the outskirts of the capital city home to many amazing new Restaurants and Bars including the Hard Rock Bar ,a quiet, elegant, yet moderately priced complex, walking the waterfront is yet again another beautiful view in itself. This area is where a hovercraft departs Daily for Trips to and from Sicily, taking you on excursions(if you wish) to Places like mount Etna, and the city of Taormina.-Which from my personal experience I can tell you are beautiful.

Maybe it isn't a drink that you want? Maybe you are looking for a game of bingo to play? Or some activities on the beach to finish of an amazing day? These are all typical activities taking place on nearly all beaches in Malta on a Daily basis. On every beach you will find numerous beach bars and open restaurants. These venues offer entertainment every night. And let's be Blunt, it's Cheap!!!! Not all children like playing Bingo though, and sometimes children just want to stand up, run around, play football; basically just entertain themselves in their own way .That's why beach bars are amazing. Long Golden stretches of sand, loads of space for children to entertain themselves, under your watchful eye, whilst enjoying the game of bingo, or the local performances put up for your entertainment. The beaches themselves have many events running, for example barbecues and beach sports. Sometimes local village groups organise barbecues on the beach that everyone can go to for a small fee in the range of £4 per person. Another experience lovely to be a part of on your holiday to Malta.

The amazing thing about all these resorts is that they are all different, this is a few of them only. There are tons, including Mellieha, St Pauls Bay, Bahar ic-Caq and Qawra. Some people want to relax on holiday, and get sleep at night, in Malta you can, without Vibrations through your Bed from the Nightclubs. The loud Party areas are divided away from the quieter resort areas, and the local villages; comfort always comes first in Malta.
For more information about Malta, please check out my other articles, regarding different aspects of Malta, from History, to beautiful beaches themselves.

Located at the Heart of the Mediterranean, Malta is one of this Earths most precious Jewels. Situated just south of Sicily (Italy's sister island) Malta offers unimaginable views that no words could possibly describe. This pretty little island is home to around 350,000 people. The Main Language spoke in Malta is Maltese, but a lot of the Maltese people have a strong grasp and understanding of English and Italian as these are the 2 main languages that Maltese is based upon.

With 7,000 years of history, the Maltese Islands are steeped in culture and heritage. The Islands went through a golden Neolithic period, the remains of which are the mysterious megalithic temples dedicated to the goddess of fertility. Later on, the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans and the Byzantines, all left their traces on the Islands.

One of the most amazing temples that I can write about whilst living in Malta is the Hypogeum, an underground temple, with the same layout as the megalithic temples. All of these temples are open for public viewing. Charges for these museums cost little to nothing. But booking with a travel operator might be a good idea as entrance to these temples is always difficult due to high demands with customers, who all book months in advance to visit these stunning temples.

Christianity was brought to Malta by St. Paul. He was on his way to Rome when his boat shipwrecked in Malta. These days St Paul is seen as one of Malta's Patron Saints, with the 10th of February being a bank holiday in order celebrate this Saints work on the island. Nowadays traditional boat trips can be taken from Buggibba, one of Malta's more lively towns taking you to the actually spot where St Paul's Boat shipwrecked, showing you a monument of the Saint, then taking you on a Tour of local water caves hidden around the island with amazing corals which can be seen through the crystal clear waters. Many of these tours continue into Gozo and Comino-Malta's sister islands.(more about those in Part 2)

Many of Malta's towns and villages were built to be protected from enemies in battles throughout the Islands history. They were built up thanks to the nights of St John. Building fortresses and massive walls around many of the outer cities to protect them from attack. These protective barriers were so strong that they helped in protecting Malta in the World War 2. Many areas of Malta have been so well conserved. All of these pieces that build up Malta are still in a good state.

Many Cathedrals were also built in this time. All of these having an amazing history behind them. For example the Mosta Dome. It's as the 4rd Biggest Dome in Europe. During mass in World War 2, enemies bombed through the ceiling of the church. This bomb miraculously never went off. And till this present day, the actual bomb that was dropped on the church is visited by thousands of tourists every year. Entry into all churches and Cathedrals is Free.

The World's Largest Cannon is Found in Malta, and amazingly is still fired once a year, sending vibrations around the country. The massive 100-ton gun used as a coastal battery, was designed to become the world's largest cannon.

The gun, still on show at Fort Rinella, has a barrel almost 10-metres long and could fire a one-ton shell about three miles. Animated tours of the Fort, and the cannon itself happen daily by Maltese heritage volunteers, dressed as Victorian soldiers. Entrance to this Fort is again little to nothing.

This is a brief insight into Maltas history. The document would continue going on forever. In following parts I will be talking about Malta's Entertainment, Shopping, Traditions and Clubbing.

Thank You.