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The Maltese Archipelago is
composed of five islands. Malta is the largest, followed by Gozo, its sister
island. Throughout the centuries, many countries have availed themselves of
the strategic, central position of the Maltese islands and their splendid
natural harbours.
In the year 60 AD St. Paul found
refuge on Maltese shores, hence receiving “uncommon kindness” by the
inhabitants of the islands. Malta has been the home of many settlers and
conquerors, such as the Sicilians, the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans,
Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Castillians, and Spanish. However, it is public
knowledge that Spain's ceding of the Islands to the Knights of the Order of
St. John ushered an era of sophisticated culture and glory in Malta's
history.
The Knights of St John era lasted 270 years. The Knights left their mark on
the islands, by means of splendid fortresses, towers and the renowned
capital city of Valletta itself. Valletta takes its name after its
initiator, the Grand Master Jean de la Valette.
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Following this era, the Islands
fell into the hands of Napoleon Bonaparte. Upheaval dominated the scene,
resulting in the Maltese people choosing to become a British colony.
Later on Malta fought the World
War II with Britain, hence, earning the commendation of the whole world. In
fact, the Islands where awarded the George Cross for the level of courage
they showed ... a courage beyond that which was expected of them. The George
Cross is still depicted in the Maltese flag.
In 1964, Malta took its
independence and from a military base, Malta’s economy began to focus on
tourism and investment. In 1974, Malta became a Republic and in 1979 the
British troops formally departed from the Islands. To this day, Malta has
kept an intricately woven relationship with the British. English is also a
national language and a large number of British people visit Malta every
year, some of them eventually becoming permanent residents of the islands.
Today, Malta has become a centre
of commerce and investment. With its warm climate and talented workforce,
Malta presently seeks to allure another sort of domination: investment. The
Maltese economy focuses on establishing a friendly environment to companies,
high-tech businesses and foreigners alike.
Malta offers its visitors much
more than a common holiday atmosphere… it offers a blend of Mediterranean
culture, language versatility and friendliness. Its attributes are an
uncommon gem indeed!
[Chronology
of key events in Malta's history]
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