Malta - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Malta is an archipelago off the coast of southern Italy, in the Mediterranean Sea. The two largest islands are Malta and Gozo.

Malta has an area of 122 square miles (316 square kilometers.)

The capital of Malta is Valletta.

Malta has mild winters and hot, dry summers.

409,000 people live in Malta.

96% are Maltese.

94% are Roman Catholic.

The official languages of Malta are Maltese and English.

Tourism, textiles and electronics are important industries.

Malta is a member of the European Union and the Commonwealth of Nations.

The euro is Malta's official currency.

Malta has a parliamentary system of government.

People from many different cultures have settled on Malta, and Maltese culture reflects the country's diverse history.

Malta was settled by the ancient Greeks and by the Phoenicians.

It has been under the control of Carthage, the Roman Empire, Spain and France.

Malta became part of the British Empire in 1814. It became an independent nation in 1964.