|
|
 |
|
| Historical Malta |
 |
|
Ask anyone what they think of when you say to them "Malta" and they instinctively answer
"blue skies and blue seas." But until you have actually visited the island, few people realise that
there is a whole lot more to Malta than simply a great holiday destination. Malta is like an open
book that spans Mediterranean history through time.
For such a small island there is a huge diverse collection of historical, cultural and traditional
attractions to experience. One possible explanation for this could well be Malta's strategic
positioning in the Mediterranean. Only 320sqkm and positioned 93km south of Sicily and 217km north
of Libya, it acts as a stepping stone between Europe and Africa.
Without doubt it is the Megalithic Temples that is the islands oldest legacy. Experts have dated them
as far back as 3800BC making them the oldest man made structures on the planet. The island was first
colonised by the Phoenicians some time around 800BC. Malta then seemed to move along through time
being systematically ruled by foreign invaders. After the Phoenicians came the Romans, then the Arabs
and then the Norman's.
And then came one of Malta's most influential rulers, The Order of the Knights of Saint John. The
island was given to the Knights by the Emperor of Spain in exchange for two Maltese Falcons a year.
The Knights then built Malta into a Great Fortified island just before 30,000 Turks invaded it.
The island was under siege for three months and amazingly managed to defeat the Turks with an army
consisting of just 700 knights and 8,000 Maltese. The knights were rewarded for this great feat with
the beautiful city of Valletta, now the island's capital.
Later on through time Malta became part of the British Empire. The British used the island, as a naval
base due, once again, to it's strategic positioning in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately the island
also proved to be of great value to the Germans as they laid on an intensive 2-year bombing campaign
to capture her. However, the Maltese showed great resilience and the island was never captured by the
Germans, hence the George Cross being awarded to the whole island by the British.
After being ruled for so long by foreign invaders the Maltese eventually moved towards independence,
which was finally gained in 1964.
With such an interesting past it is no wonder that Malta has accumulated an abundance of historical
attractions. And whilst this past is also reflected in the Maltese culture, the most dominant influence
is clearly that of the Catholic Church. There are a vast number of churches on the island including
the Mosta, one of the largest Dome churches in the world. Many of these churches are responsible for
one of the islands great traditions, the festas. Each village and town will pay tribute to its patron
saint by parading the saint's statue in the cobbled streets of Malta as the locals look on and
celebrate in true Mediterranean style.
It is traditions such as these and many others that the Maltese have managed to retain which makes
the island so charming. Add to this it's glorious architecture, great-fortified cities, caves,
grotto's and superb weather and you have the perfect painting destination.
|
|
|
please
email us or, alternatively, write to us
|
|
|
