Malta (history)

The Maltese islands, formally a British colony are a combination of traditional and modern values. The sun burnt people, originally of Phoenician origin, are proud of their own culture and history. These are an emblem of their own identity. They are extremely proud of the achievements by their own country since independence in 1964. Malta boasts historical treasures, which are older, then the pyramids of Egypt. History is the language of people. The hypogeum at Hal Tarxien, Ggantija, Imnajdra and Ghardalam prehistoric temples are archaeological treasures, which reflect wealth of heritage of Mediterranean legacy. Travellers who ventured in the Mediterranean seas were thrilled by historic enchantment of the island.

Wherever one digs, a relic of the past is always unearthed. It is apparent that history in Malta is constantly reviving its very roots, with the on coming waves of tourists who throng the island within every season of the year. Thus, the legacies of the past live in the very present.

Home to those early defenders of Christendom, the Hospitaller Knights of St John, the Islands are rich in religious history.

The Maltese Islanders are among the oldest Christian peoples in the world. St Paul, shipwrecked as a captive on route to Rome in A.D. 60, brought Christianity to Malta. His steps can be retraced in the shrines, grottos and catacombs of Rabat and in the ancient capital Mdina.

There are 365 churches and chapels scattered throughout the Islands and you can usually find the centre of any town or village by driving towards the parish church, although many usually have two or more churches and chapels. You can’t help but notice the Islands’ Baroque churches, their red or silver painted domes in relief against the skyline. They form an integral part of the Islands’ countryside, dominate village squares and are at the heart of Maltese social and cultural life.

The Knights of St John brought much-needed funds to the Islands and the impetus to build more elaborate churches. Although the Knights arrived in 1530, it was around half century before they began to build the parish churches we see today. Their first concern had been to fortify the Islands against further Saracen attacks and to build Valletta. The Golden Age of peace and prosperity that followed the Great Siege in 1565, saw riches from Europe flow into Malta to build and endow Malta’s churches.

St John’s Cathedral is the highlight of the Maltese Islands. Home to two of Caravaggio's most impressive work "St. Jerome" and "The Beheading of St. John Baptist", this cathedral of the Knights of St John is a must to visit. The austere facade is reminiscent of the fortifications of Valletta, the fortress city in which it stands; while the exuberant and lavish baroque interior shows the Knights’ deep appreciation and patronage of culture and the arts.

Gozo, located in the North-west of Malta, which is a separate island, is greener, more fertile and relatively more conservative in its detached world from time and confusion from modern life. The island has a low-density population and its indented coastline boasts with the beauty of relaxing of beautiful beaches. Xlendi, Marsalforn and Dwejra top the charts in this respect. The Gozitian pride in their local crafts, especially lace-making which has a tradition extending back to the order of St.John. The Gozitans, are proud of their own identity and individuality and seek to distinguish themselves from Maltese. There are 365 churches and chapels scattered throughout the Islands and you can usually find the centre of any town or village by driving towards the parish church, although many usually have two or more churches and chapels. You can’t help but notice the Islands’ Baroque churches, their red or silver painted domes in relief against the skyline. They form an integral part of the Islands’ countryside, dominate village squares and are at the heart of Maltese social and cultural life.