About Malta

Malta, Gozo and Comino, the inhabited islands of the Maltese archipelago, lie at almost the exact geographical heart of the Mediterranean Sea. With Sicily some 95 kms to the North, Tripoli 350 kms to the South and Tunis 320 kms to the West, Malta is virtually at the crossroads between continents. The islands' strategic position has, in fact, made them subject to a succession of rulers, who in turn left their influence on the country and language as we know them today. Malta's pre-history dates back to 5000 B.C., whilst its documented past is traceable over a period of 2000 years. In 1964 Malta obtained its political independence from Britain and in 1974 it became a Republic. Elections to the House of Representatives are held every five years. Malta is a member of the United Nations and its various organisations and ever since 1964 has taken an active role in United Nations affairs. In 1967 Malta launched the idea of seabed resources being the common heritage of mankind. Malta became a full member of the EU on 1 May, 2004.

The capital city is Valletta commissioned by Grandmaster La Vallette after the Great Siege of 1565. Malta has a population of 400,000 and is visited annually by over a million tourists.

The official languages of Malta are Maltese and English, so getting by with English is not a problem. Italian is also widely spoken. Maltese is a complex derivative of Semitic and Romance languages using a primarily Latin alphabet but also including a number of additional letters which originate in the Arab language.

The climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers, warm and sporadically wet autumns, and short, cool winters with adequate rainfall. The average temperature in November is 20C (70F) during the day and around 14C (60F) at night.

Photos reproduced from Viewing Malta

Places to Visit: Valletta

Valletta is the capital city of Malta, with a 500 year history. It was built in the late 16th century by the Knights of the Order of Saint John to support the defense of the island. It is named after La Vallette, a Grandmaster of the Order, who initiated the building of the city having defended the island from a siege by the Ottoman Empire forces in 1565. It is surrounded by bastions, and there are various palaces, museums, churches and other interesting locations to visit.

To reach Valletta, take bus 62, 63 or 65 from the conference hotel, which stops at the Valletta bus terminus. An alternative route, taking longer in time, but covering less distance, and giving a more scenic view, is to stop by bus at the Sliema Ferry bus terminus, and then taking a ferry to Valletta.

Places to Visit: Mdina

Mdina is the old capital city of Malta - known to be inhabited from at least 7 centuries BC. Known as the silent city, it is well worth a visit even if just to walk around the narrow, winding streets, and having a coffee or lunch at one of the cafes sitting atop the bastions, overlooking half of Malta.

To reach Mdina, one can take bus number 65 from just opposite the conference hotel Le Meridian, or bus 80 from Valletta.




Places to Visit: Gozo

Gozo is the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago, just 6km to the northwest of Malta. If you plan to extend your stay in Malta, it is well-worth a day visit.

A regular ferry leaves Gozo from Cirkewwa more or less every hour (see the Gozo Channel website for more information). To reach Cirkewwa, one can either take bus 645 from just opposite the conference hotel, or bus 45 from Valletta.

Some locations of interest in Gozo include:

Other Cultural and Historical Highlights

Information about various other places can be found on this site.

Activities

The weather in Malta in November is perfect for outdoor activities. Information about various walks and bike tracks around the island can be found online. Although starting to get cold by Maltese standards, the temperature of the sea is still warm enough for a swim. There are also various diving centres in Malta, if you are interested in exploring beneath the sea - with a number of underwater attractions such as wrecks.

For organised outdoor activities such as abseiling, biking and trekking, one can also contact specialised companies, such as Malta Outdoors.

Further Information about Malta

Photos reproduced from Viewing Malta