The Balkanista’s guide to Malta

I lived in Malta for 10 years and when I tell people this, most people either aren’t quite sure where it is, or if they do know, they don’t know a whole lot about it.

I’m often asked about England, but the truth is that I have not lived there for most of my adult life and I remember very little. I don’t even really identify as British and it is hard for me to feel any affiliation for the culture- well, what culture there is.

As I am currently in Malta on a short visit, I thought I would share a bit about the country with you all.

1. Malta is the fifth smallest country in the EU after the Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino, and Liechtenstein. With an area of 316km and measuring just 27km by 14.5km, you could walk from one end to the other in a couple of hours.
2. The Maltese language is completely unique and totally different from every other European language (a bit like Albanian) as it is the only Semitic language that is written in Latin letters. In other word’s, it is very similar to Arabic but is not written in the Arabic script. The basis of the language is virtually indistinguishable from Arabic dialects but there are more modern words that are influenced by British, Italian, and even French words.
3. As well as Maltese, English is also an official language, and Italian is spoken widely but is not recognised officially.
4. Until around 60 years ago, Malta was a part of the UK  Now, it remains as a part of the Commonwealth with the Queen of England, Elizabeth II as its head.
5. Over the years, Malta has been invaded by the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Aghlabids, Norman, Swabians, Aragonese, Spanish, the Order of St John, the French, the Italian, and finally the English who only rescinded their power in 1964. All of these influences can be seen today still in Maltese culture, food, and of course, the language.
6. The capital city is Valletta- a fortified city located on top of a hill overlooking a large, natural harbour. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to wonderful architecture from many different periods of Maltese history.
7. Malta is also home to the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum which is an underground necropolis and network of caves which was first excavated around 2500 BC.
8. You can also visit Hagar Qim which is said to be over 5000 years old. This temple complex is also one of the oldest free-standing religious structures on the planet.
9. The Maltese are staunchly Roman Catholic with religion heavily influencing many aspects of society, including politics and law-making.
10. Speaking of which, it is now the only places in Europe, and one of four countries in the world where abortion is illegal, even if the woman’s life is in danger.
11. The population of Malta is somewhere in the region of 425,300 people with a population density of 1,346 km2 making it the 8th most densely populated country in Europe.
12. Malta is bloody hot- expect over 300 days of sunshine every year with a maximum of 40 degrees in the summer months.
13. Malta is home to exactly 365 churches. It also has one large Mosque.
14. The name “Malta” supposedly comes from the Greek word for honey, “Melite”.
15. The whole country was awarded the George Cross for bravery exhibited during WWII. Malta was the most heavily bombed country in Europe.
16. Malta was used as a location for Game of Thrones, World War Z, Gladiator, Troy, Munich, and Assassins Creed, amongst others.
17. Malta does not have a single forest or river. The in power Labour government is also on a crusade to chop down trees, something which locals are protesting about.
18. Whilst the Maltese generally dislike foreigners, there are actually more Maltese living in Melbourne, Australia than there are in the whole of Malta.
19. The Maltese cross, most famously associated with the Knights of Malta, was introduced to Malta by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in 1530. The cross is featured on the Maltese Euro coins and is also used by the national airline Air Malta.
20. The Maltese cross, most famously associated with the Knights of Malta, was introduced to Malta by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in 1530. The cross is featured on the Maltese Euro coins and is also used by the national airline Air Malta.
21. Malta only has a handful of sandy beaches, instead, they are mainly rocky outcrops or pebbled beaches.
22. The water in Malta is considered some of the best in the world for diving and its coast is a popular location for deep sea diving, freediving, scuba diving, and snorkelling. There is also a large number of wrecks and reefs that are perfect for exploring.
23. When it comes to food, something called Pastizzi is eaten in abundance. These flaky pastry wraps contain spiced mushy peas or ricotta cheese and are eaten piping hot. Other national dishes include rabbit in tomato sauce, mince wrapped in beef, and lots of fish.
24. In my opinion, it is well worth a holiday visit but the island has lost a lot of its original charm in recent years.

As to why I left? That is the topic for another post!