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EXAMPLE OF COUNTRY. DEADLINE : **DECEMBER, 11TH DECEMBER 2012** MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: NAME, FLAG, SHIELD, ANTHEM from YOUTUBE, GEOGRAPHY, MAPS (physical and political), HISTORY, Links about TOURISM, PICTURES ABOUT THE COUNTRY. CREATIVITY IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!! **MALTA**


 * __FLAG OF MALTA __




 * __SHIELD OF MALTA__


 * __ANTHEM OF MALTA __

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 * __MAPS OF MALTA __





>


 * __USEFUL INFORMATION__


 * **Capital:** [|Valletta].
 * **Largest city:** [|Birkirkara].
 * **Official language:** [|Maltese] and [|English].
 * **Form of government:** [|Republic] Parliament.
 * **Surface:** 316 [|km ²]
 * **Population:** 406,771 (2010).
 * **Population density:** 1.28 inhabitants / km ²
 * **Inhabitants:** Maltese / s

officially known as the **Republic of Malta** ( [|Maltese] : //Repubblika ta' Malta//), is a [|Southern European] country consisting of an [|archipelago] situated in the centre of the [|Mediterranean], 80 km (50 mi) south of [|Sicily] , 284 km (176 mi) east of [|Tunisia] and 333 km (207 mi) north of [|Libya] , with [|Gibraltar] 1,755 km (1,091 mi) to the west and [|Alexandria] 1,508 km (937 mi) to the east. [|[7]] Malta covers just over 316 km2 (122 sq mi) in land area, making it one of the world's [|smallest microstates]. [|[8]][|[9]][|[10]] It is also one of the [|most] [|densely populated] countries worldwide. Its //de facto// capital is [|Valletta] and the largest town is [|Birkirkara]. The [|main island] is made up of many towns, which together form one [|Larger Urban Zone (LUZ)] with a population of 368,250 according to [|Eurostat]. [|[11]] The country has two official languages – [|Maltese] and [|English] – with Maltese being considered the national language. Throughout history, Malta's location has given it great strategic importance, [|[12]] and a sequence of powers including the [|Phoenicians], [|Greeks] , [|Romans] , [|Arabs] , [|Normans] , [|Aragonese] , [|Knights of St John] , [|French] and the [|British] ruled the islands. Malta gained [|independence] from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a republic in 1974, whilst retaining membership in the [|Commonwealth of Nations]. Since 1964 it has been a [|member] of the [|United Nations] and in 2004 it joined as [|member] of the [|European Union]. Malta is also party to the [|Schengen Agreement][|[13]] and in 2008 it became part of the [|eurozone]. Malta has a long Christian legacy and is an [|Apostolic See]. According to the [|Acts of the Apostles] in the Bible, [|[14]] [|St. Paul] was shipwrecked on "Melite", as the Greeks called the island, and ministered there.C [|atholicism] is the [|official] [|religion in Malta] as declared by the [|Maltese constitution]. Malta is internationally renowned as a tourist [|resort], with numerous recreational areas and historical monuments, including nine UNESCO World Heritage most prominently the [|Megalithic Temples] which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.

The origin of the term // Malta // is uncertain, and the modern-day variation derives from the [|Maltese language]. The most common [|etymology] is that the word// Malta // derives from the [|Greek] word μέλι (// meli //), "honey". [|[22]] The Greeks called the island Μελίτη (// Melitē //) meaning " [|honey] -sweet" (which was also the name of a [|Nereid] [|[23]] ), possibly due to Malta's unique production of honey; an [|endemic] species of [|bee] lives on the island, giving it the popular nickname the "land of honey". [|[24]] The Romans went on to call the island Melita, [|[25]] which is the [|latinisation] of the Greek Μελίτη. [|[26]] Another theory suggests that the word // Malta // comes from the [|Phoenician] word // Maleth // meaning "a haven" [|[27]] in reference to Malta's many bays and [|coves]. >
 * __ETYMOLOGY__
 * __GEOGRAPHY __

Malta is an [|archipelago] in the central [|Mediterranean] (in its eastern basin), some 80 km (49.71 mi) south of the Italian island of [|Sicily] across the [|Malta Channel]. Only the three largest islands – [|Malta] (Malta), [|Gozo] (Għawdex), and [|Comino] (Kemmuna) – are inhabited. The smaller islands (see below) are uninhabited. The islands of the archipelago were formed from the high points of a [|land bridge] between [|Sicily] and North Africa that became isolated as sea levels rose after the last [|Ice Age]. [|[63]] The archipelago lies on the edge of the African tectonic plate where it meets the Eurasian plate. [|[64]]

Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. The landscape consists of low hills with terraced fields. The highest point in Malta is [|Ta' Dmejrek], at 253 m (830 ft), near [|Dingli]. Although there are some small rivers at times of high rainfall, there are no permanent rivers or lakes on Malta. However, some watercourses have fresh water running all year round at [|Baħrija], l-Imtaħleb and San Martin, and at Lunzjata Valley in Gozo.

[|Phytogeographically], Malta belongs to the Liguro-Tyrrhenian province of the [|Mediterranean Region] within the [|Boreal Kingdom]. According to the [|WWF], the territory of Malta belongs to the [|ecoregion] of "Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub". [|[65]] The minor islands that form part of the [|archipelago] are uninhabited and include:
 * * Barbaganni Rock ( [|Gozo] )
 * [|Cominotto], (//Kemmunett//)
 * Delimara Island ( [|Marsaxlokk] )
 * [|Filfla] ( [|Żurrieq] )/( [|Siġġiewi] )
 * Fessej Rock
 * [|Fungus Rock], (//Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral//) ( [|Gozo] )
 * Għallis Rock ( [|Naxxar] )
 * Ħalfa Rock ( [|Gozo] )
 * Large Blue Lagoon Rocks ( [|Comino] ) || * [|Islands of St. Paul] /Selmunett Island ( [|Mellieħa] )
 * [|Manoel Island], which connects to the town of [|Gżira] , on the mainland, via a bridge
 * Mistra Rocks ( [|San Pawl il-Baħar] )
 * Taċ-Ċawl Rock ( [|Gozo] )
 * Qawra Point/Ta` Fraben Island ( [|San Pawl il-Baħar] )
 * Small Blue Lagoon Rocks ( [|Comino] )
 * Sala Rock ( [|Żabbar] )
 * Xrobb l-Għaġin Rock ( [|Marsaxlokk] )
 * Ta'that il-Mazz Rock ||

> **Official name:** Repubblika ta 'Malta / Republic of Malta **National Day:** [|September 21] (1964) Independence Day. **Constitution:** 1964, amended many times. **President** George Abela (from April 4, 2009) **Prime Minister Lawrence**Gonzi (since March 23, 2004) > Presidential election system: elected by the House of Representatives (eligible for a second term. Elections January 12, 2009, forthcoming April 2014. System of election of the prime minister, chosen by the president. > === Judicial === > **Legal system:** based on [|English common law] and [|Roman law], accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ, with reservations > > === Parliament === > Unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats, members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation for a term of five years; note - the Parliament elected in 2008 is composed of 69 seats, when the winning political party plurality of votes does not win a majority of seats, the Constitution states that a sufficient number of parliament seats will be added to ensure that the party won the elections with a majority in Parliament)Elections of March 8, 2008 (next to March [|2013] ): PN 49.3%, 48.8% PL, other 1.9%; seats by party - PN 35, PL 34 > === Matches === > > === Territorial division === > Malta is divided into 68 local councils.
 * __GOVERNMENT__
 * Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Tonio BORG
 * Minister of Communications and Projects: Austin GATT
 * Minister of Education and Culture: Dolores CRISTINA
 * Minister of Finance: Tonio FENECH
 * Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono
 * Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carmelo MIFSUD BONNICI
 * Social Policy Minister John Dalli
 * Minister for Resources and Rural Affairs: George PULLICINO
 * Constitutional Court and Constitutional Court
 * Court or Court of First Instance
 * Court of Appeal or Court of Appeal
 * Nationalist Party or PN leader Lawrence Gonzi
 * Malta Labor Party or PL leader Joseph Muscat
 * Alternativa Demokratika / Alliance for Social Justice or AD Michael Briguglio leader
 * Azzjoni Nazzjonaili or AN, Josi leader MUSCAT

> Malta has a [|Subtropical] – [|Mediterranean climate] ( [|Köppen climate classification] //Csa//), [|[66]][|[67]] with mild winters and warm to hot summers. Rain occurs mainly in winter, with summer being generally dry. > The average yearly temperature is 22–23 °C (72–73 °F) during the day and 15 °C (59 °F) at night. In the coldest month – January – the temperature ranges from 12 to 20 °C (54 to 68 °F) during the day and 7 to 12 °C (45 to 54 °F) at night. In the warmest month – August – the temperature ranges from 28 to 34 °C (82 to 93 °F) during the day and 19 to 24 °C (66 to 75 °F) at night. Generally – summer's/holiday season lasts to 8 months, starting from around mid-April with temperatures 19–23 °C (66–73 °F) during the day and 13–14 °C (55–57 °F) at night, ending in November with temperatures 17–23 °C (63–73 °F) during the day and 11–20 °C (52–68 °F) at night, although also in the remaining 4 months temperatures sometimes reach 20 °C (68 °F). Amongst all capitals in the continent of Europe, Valletta – the capital of Malta has the warmest winters, with average temperatures of 15–16 °C (59–61 °F) during the day and 9–10 °C (48–50 °F) at night in the period January–February. In March and December average temperatures is around 17 °C (63 °F) during the day and 11 °C (52 °F) at night. [|[68]] Large fluctuations in temperature are rare. Also, Malta is one of the few places in Europe which are "green" all year round. > Average annual temperature of the sea is 20 °C (68 °F) (the highest in the continent of Europe), from 16 °C (61 °F) in January to 26 °C (79 °F) in August. In the entire 6 months – from June to November – the average sea temperature exceeds 21 °C (70 °F) [|[69]] > Sunshine hours total around 3,000 per year (one of the highest results in Europe), from an average above five hours of sunshine per day in December to an average above 12 hours in July. [|[69]] This is about double that of cities in the northern half of Europe, for comparison: London – 1,461; [|[70]] however in winter it has up to several times more sunshine, for comparison: London has 37 hours [|[70]] while Malta has 155 or 164 (depending on the sources) hours of sunshine in December.
 * __CLIMATE __

(59.4) || 15.5 (59.9) || 16.7  (62.1) || 19.1  (66.4) || 23.3  (73.9) || 27.5  (81.5) || 30.7  (87.3) || 30.7  (87.3) || 28.0  (82.4) || 24.2  (75.6) || 20.1  (68.2) || 16.7  (62.1) || 22.3 || (54.0) || 12.4  (54.3) || 13.4  (56.1) || 15.5  (59.9) || 19.1  (66.4) || 23.0  (73.4) || 25.9  (78.6) || 26.3  (79.3) || 24.1  (75.4) || 20.7  (69.3) || 17.0  (62.6) || 13.9  (57.0) || 18.6 || (48.6) || 9.3  (48.7) || 10.1  (50.2) || 11.9  (53.4) || 14.9  (58.8) || 18.4  (65.1) || 21.0  (69.8) || 21.8  (71.2) || 20.1  (68.2) || 17.1  (62.8) || 13.9  (57.0) || 11.0  (51.8) || 14.9 || (3.504) || 61.3  (2.413) || 40.9  (1.61) || 22.5  (0.886) || 6.6  (0.26) || 3.2  (0.126) || 0.4  (0.016) || 7.0  (0.276) || 40.4  (1.591) || 89.7  (3.531) || 80.0  (3.15) || 112.3  (4.421) || 553.3  (21.783) ||
 * ~ [ [|hide] ]Climate data for Malta ( [|Malta International Airport] in [|Luqa], in the central part of the island) ||
 * ~ Month ||~ Jan ||~ Feb ||~ Mar ||~ Apr ||~ May ||~ Jun ||~ Jul ||~ Aug ||~ Sep ||~ Oct ||~ Nov ||~ Dec ||~ Year ||
 * ~ Average high °C (°F) || 15.2
 * ~ Daily mean °C (°F) || 12.2
 * ~ Average low °C (°F) || 9.2
 * ~ [|Precipitation] mm (inches) || 89.0
 * ~ Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) || 13.7 || 10.9 || 8.9 || 6.4 || 2.8 || 1.1 || 0.4 || 1.0 || 3.9 || 10.2 || 10.6 || 14.2 || 84.1 ||
 * ~ Sunshine hours || 155 || 174 || 217 || 240 || 310 || 330 || 372 || 341 || 270 || 217 || 180 || 155 || 2,961 ||
 * //Source: [|World Meteorological Organization] (UN), [|[71]] weather2travel.com [|[69]] for data of sunshine hours // ||

> Today Malta is one of the most important new tourist destinations of Europe, thanks to his beautiful landscapes, his valuable architecture and his long billiard cue tells the history that it has marked it in every corner of his territory.
 * __ HISTORY __



The history of Malta goes back towards 5200 to. C, when his first settlers of the Age of Stone began to work the agriculture, probably coming from the neighboring zone of the current Sicily. Nowadays they can appreciate big archaeological structures, which are the most valuable legacy of Malta, as the following video refers: media type="youtube" key="wBkABhlbqFI" height="315" width="420"

Thousands of years later, Malta was populated by the Greeks, and then the Romans, leaving indications of his demurrage in the zone. About the decade of 60, it is said that the coasts were visited of way injured by San Paul, provided that this one sank in what today is known as San Paul's Bay. Some centuries later Malta was dominated during a brief domain by the Byzantine empire, for then.

Prehistory
See also: [|Megalithic Temples of Malta], [|Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni] , [|Għar Dalam] , and [|Heritage Malta]

[|Prehistoric] [|pygmy elephant], discovered in [|Għar Dalam] Pottery found by archeologists at [|Skorba] resembles that found in Italy, and suggests that the Maltese islands were first settled in 5200 BC mainly by stone age hunters or farmers who had arrived from the larger island of [|Sicily], possibly the [|Sicani]. The extinction of the [|dwarf hippos] and [|dwarf elephants] has been linked to the earliest arrival of humans on Malta. [|[28]] Prehistoric farming settlements dating to [|Early Neolithic] period were discovered in open areas and also in caves, such as [|Għar Dalam]. [|[29]] The [|Sicani] were the only tribe known to have inhabited the island at this time [|[30]][|[31]] and are generally regarded as related to the [|Iberians]. [|[32]] The population on Malta grew [|cereals], raised [|domestic livestock] and, in common with other ancient Mediterranean cultures, worshiped a [|fertility figure] represented in Maltese prehistoric artifacts as exhibiting the large proportions seen in similar statuettes, including the [|Venus of Willendorf]. [|Ġgantija] [|megalithic] temple complex  The temple complex of [|Mnajdra] Pottery from the [|Għar Dalam] phase is similar to pottery found in [|Agrigento], Sicily. A culture of [|megalithic] temple builders then either supplanted or arose from this early period. During 3500 BC, these people built some of the oldest existing, free-standing structures in the world in the form of the megalithic [|Ġgantija] temples on [|Gozo] ; [|[33]] other early temples include those at [|Ħaġar Qim] and [|Mnajdra]. [|[34]][|[35]][|[36]] The temples have a distinctive architecture, typically a complex trefoil design, and were used from 4000–2500 BC. Animal bones and a knife found behind a removable altar stone suggest that temple rituals included [|animal sacrifice]. Tentative information suggests that the sacrifices were made to the goddess of fertility, whose statue is now in the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. [|[37]] The culture apparently disappeared from the Maltese Islands around 2500 BC. Archeologists speculate that the temple builders fell victim to famine or disease. Others have speculated on the links between this event and [|Plato] 's account of the disappearance of [|Atlantis]. Another interesting archeological feature of the Maltese islands often attributed to these ancient builders, are equidistant uniform grooves dubbed "cart tracks" or "cart ruts" which can be found in several locations throughout the islands with the most prominent being those found in an area of Malta named "Clapham Junction". These may have been caused by wooden-wheeled carts eroding soft limestone. [|[38]][|[39]] After 2500 BC, the Maltese Islands were depopulated for several decades until the arrival of a new influx of [|Bronze Age] immigrants, a culture that [|cremated] its dead and introduced smaller megalithic structures called [|dolmens] to Malta. [|[40]]

Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans
See also: [|Magna Graecia], [|Phoenicia] , [|Ancient Rome] , [|Sicilia (Roman province)] , and [|Byzantine Empire] Around 700 BC, the [|Ancient Greeks] settled on Malta, especially around the area where [|Valletta] now stands. [|[41]] A century later, [|Phoenician] traders, [|[41]] who used the islands as a stop on their trade routes from the eastern [|Mediterranean] to [|Cornwall], joined the natives on the island. [|[42]] The Phoenicians inhabited the area now known as [|Mdina], and its surrounding town of [|Rabat] , which they called//Maleth//. [|[43]] The [|Romans], who also lived in Mdina, referred to it (and the island) as //Melita//. [|[25]] [|Roman] mosaic from <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Rabat, Malta]. After the fall of [|Phoenicia], in 400 BC the area came under the control of [|Carthage] , a former Phoenician colony. [|[44]] During this time the people on Malta mainly cultivated [|olives] and [|carobs], and produced textiles. [|[44]] During the [|First Punic War] of 264 BC, tensions led the Maltese people to rebel against Carthage and turn control of their garrison over to the Roman consul [|Sempronius]. [|[25]] Malta remained loyal to Rome during the [|Second Punic War] and the Romans rewarded it with the title // [|Foederata Civitas] //, a designation that meant it was exempt from paying [|tribute] or the rule of [|Roman law], although at this time it fell within the jurisdiction of the province of [|Sicily]. [|[25]] By 117 AD, the Maltese Islands were a thriving part of the [|Roman Empire], being promoted to the status of // [|Municipium] // under [|Hadrian]. [|[25]] [|Catacombs] in [|Rabat] testify to an early Christian community on the islands, and the [|Acts of the Apostles] recount the shipwreck of [|St Paul] and his ministry on the island. When the Roman Empire split into Eastern and Western divisions in the 4th century, Malta fell under the control of the Greek speaking [|Byzantine Empire] from 395 to 870, [|[41]] which ruled from [|Constantinople]. [|[45]] Although Malta was under Byzantine rule for four centuries, not much is known from this period. There is evidence that [|Germanic tribes], including the [|Goths] and [|Vandals] , briefly took control of the islands before the Byzantines launched a counter attack and retook Malta. [|[45]]

Middle Ages
See also: [|Byzantine-Arab Wars], [|Emirate of Sicily] , [|Kingdom of Sicily] , and [|Crown of Aragon] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Roger I of Sicily] returned Malta to Christian rule. <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> Flag of the Aragonese <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Kingdom of Sicily] Malta was involved in the [|Byzantine-Arab Wars], and the conquest of Malta is closely linked with that of Sicily due to admiral [|Euphemius] ' betrayal of his fellow Byzantines, requesting that the [|Aghlabid] dynasty invade the area. [|[46]] As part of the [|Emirate of Sicily], rule switched to the [|Fatimids] in 909. [|[47]] The Arabs introduced new [|irrigation], some fruits and cotton and the [|Siculo-Arabic] language was adopted on the island from Sicily: it would eventually evolve into the [|Maltese language]. [|[48]] The native Christians were allowed [|freedom of religion] but had to pay [|jizya], a tax for following their religion. [|[47]] The [|Normans], as part of their [|conquest of Sicily] , took Malta in 1091. [|[25]] The local Christians warmly welcomed the arrival of [|Roger I] and offered to fight for him; in response to this, Roger reportedly tore off a portion of his checkered red-and-white banner and presented it to the [|Maltese], forming the basis of the present-day [|Maltese flag]. [|[25]] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Ottoman] map of Malta, by <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Piri Reis] The Norman period was productive; Malta became part of the newly formed [|Kingdom of Sicily] which also covered the island of Sicily and the southern half of the [|Italian Peninsula]. [|[25]] The Catholic Church was re-instated as the state religion with Malta under the [|See of Palermo] and much [|Norman architecture] sprung up around Malta especially in its ancient capital [|Mdina]. [|[25]][|Tancred of Sicily], the last Norman monarch, made Malta a [|feudal lordship] or [|fief] within the kingdom and a [|Count of Malta] instated. As the islands were much desired due to their strategic importance, it was during this time the men of Malta were [|militarised] to fend off capture attempts; the early counts were skilled [|Genoese] [|corsairs]. [|[25]] The kingdom passed on to the [|House of Hohenstaufen] from 1194 until 1266. Malta was part of the [|Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation] for 72 years. Malta was declared a county and a marquisate, but its trade was totally ruined. For a long time it remained solely a fortified [|garrison]. [|[49]] It was in 1224 under [|Frederick II] that all remaining Muslims were expelled from Malta [|[50]] or impelled to convert [|[51]][|[52]] and the entire Christian male population of [|Celano] in Abruzzo was deported to Malta. [|[25]] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Jean Parisot de la Valette], the founder of <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Valletta] For a brief period the kingdom passed to the [|Capetian House of Anjou], however high taxes made the dynasty unpopular in Malta, due in part to [|Charles of Anjou] 's war against the [|Republic of Genoa] and the island of Gozo was sacked in 1275. [|[25]] A large revolt on Sicily known as the [|Sicilian Vespers] followed these attacks, that saw the Peninsula separating into the [|Kingdom of Naples]. Malta fell under the rule of the [|Aragonese] in 1282. [|[53]] Relatives of the [|kings of Aragon] ruled the island until 1409, when it passed to the [|Crown of Aragon]. Early on in the Aragonese reign the sons of the monarchy received the title, "Count of Malta". It was also during this time that much of the local nobility was created. However by 1397 the bearing of the title "Count of Malta" reverted to a feudal basis with two families fighting over the distinction, which caused much distress. This led the [|king] to abolish the title. Dispute over the title returned when the title was reinstated a few years later and the Maltese, led by the local nobility, rose up against Count Gonsalvo Monroy. [|[25]] Although they opposed the Count, the Maltese voiced their loyalty to the [|Sicilian Crown], which so impressed [|Alfonso IV] that he did not punish the people for their rebellion but promised never to grant the title to a third party, instead incorporating it back into the [|crown]. The city of [|Mdina] was given the title of //Città Notabile// as a result of this sequence of events. [|[25]]

Knights of Malta and Napoleon
See also: [|Knights Hospitaller] and [|Great Siege of Malta] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina] built in the <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Baroque] style. In 1530 [|Emperor Charles V] gave the islands to the [|Knights Hospitaller] under the leadership of Frenchman [|Philippe de Villiers de L'Isle-Adam], [|Grand Master of the Order] , in perpetual lease. These knights, a military religious order now known as the [|Knights of Malta], had been driven out of [|Rhodes] by the [|Ottoman Empire] in 1522. In 1551, [|Barbary corsairs] enslaved the entire population of the Maltese island [|Gozo], about 5,000, deporting them to the [|Barbary coast]. The knights, led by Frenchman [|Jean Parisot de la Valette], Grand Master of the Order, withstood a [|siege by the Ottomans] in 1565. The knights, with the help of the Maltese, were victorious, and speaking of the battle [|Voltaire] said, "Nothing is more well known than the siege of Malta." [|[54]] After the siege they decided to increase Malta's [|fortifications], particularly in the inner-harbour area, where the new city of [|Valletta] , named in honour of Valette, was built. They also established [|watchtowers] along the coasts – the [|Wignacourt], [|Lascaris] and [|de Redin towers] – named after the Grand Masters who ordered the work. The Knights' presence on the island saw the completion of many architectural and cultural projects, including the embellishment of [|Città Vittoriosa], the construction of new cities including [|Città Rohan] and [|Città Hompesch] and the introduction of new academic and social resources. Approximately 11,000 people out of a population of 60,000 died of [|plague] in 1675. [|[55]] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> // [|The Beheading of Saint John] //, by <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Caravaggio]. Oil on canvas, 361 × 520 cm (142.13 <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|in] × 204.72 in). Oratory of the <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Co-Cathedral]. The Knights' reign ended when [|Napoleon] captured Malta on his way to [|Egypt] during the [|French Revolutionary Wars] in 1798. Over the years, the power of the Knights declined and the Order became unpopular. This was around the time when the universal values of freedom and liberty were incarnated by the [|French Revolution]. People from both inside the Order and outside appealed to [|Napoleon Bonaparte] to oust the Knights. The Little Corporal did not hesitate. His fleet arrived in 1798, en route to his expedition of [|Egypt]. As a ruse towards the Knights, Napoleon asked for safe harbour to resupply his ships, and then turned his guns against his hosts once safely inside [|Valletta]. Grand Master [|Hompesch] capitulated, and Napoleon entered Malta. During his very short stay (six days), he accomplished quite a few reforms, notably the creation of a new administration with a Government Commission, the creation of twelve municipalities, the setting up of a public finance administration, the abolition of all feudal rights and privileges, the abolition of slavery and the granting of freedom to all Turkish slaves. On the judicial level, a family code was framed and twelve judges were nominated. Public education was organised along principles laid down by Bonaparte himself, providing for primary and secondary education. Fifteen primary schools were founded and the university was replaced by an ’Ecole centrale’ in which there were eight chairs, all very scientific in outlook: notably, arithmetic and stereometry, algebra and stereotomy, geometry and astronomy, mechanics and physics, navigation, chemistry, etc. He then sailed for Egypt leaving a substantial garrison in Malta. The French forces left behind became unpopular with the Maltese, due particularly to the French forces' hostility towards Catholicism. The French financial and religious policies angered the Maltese who rebelled, forcing the French to retreat within the city fortifications. Great Britain, along with the [|Kingdom of Naples] and the [|Kingdom of Sicily], sent ammunition and aid to the Maltese and Britain also sent [|her navy] , which blockaded the islands. General [|Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois] surrendered his French forces in 1800. Maltese leaders presented the island to Sir [|Alexander Ball], asking that the island become a British [|Dominion]. The Maltese people created a Declaration of Rights in which they agreed to come "under the protection and sovereignty of the King of the free people, His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland". The Declaration also stated that "his Majesty has no right to cede these Islands to any power...if he chooses to withdraw his protection, and abandon his sovereignty, the right of electing another sovereign, or of the governing of these Islands, belongs to us, the inhabitants and aborigines alone, and without control." [|[56]]

British Empire and World War II
Main article: [|Siege of Malta (World War II)] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> The heavily bomb-damaged Republic Street in <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Valletta] during the <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Siege of Malta], 1942. In 1814, as part of the [|Treaty of Paris], Malta officially became a part of the [|British Empire] and was used as a shipping way-station and fleet headquarters. Malta's position half-way between the [|Strait of Gibraltar] and the [|Suez Canal] proved to be its main asset during these years and it was considered an important stop on the way to India. This was an important trade route for the British and thus, the Maltese people took great advantage of this alliance as several culinary and botanical products were introduced in Malta; some examples (derived from the National Book of Trade Customs found in the National Library) include the entry of wheat (for bread making) and bacon. In 1919 British troops fired on a rally protesting against new taxes, killing four Maltese men. The event, known as [|Sette Giugno] (Italian for //7 June//), is commemorated every year and is one of five National Days.[// [|citation needed] //] In the early 1930s the British [|Mediterranean Fleet], which was at that time the main contributor to commerce on the island, moved to [|Alexandria] as an economic measure and to be out of range of Italian bombers.[// [|citation needed] //] During World War II, Malta played an important role owing to its proximity to [|Axis] shipping lanes. The bravery of the Maltese people during the second [|Siege of Malta] moved [|King George VI] to award the [|George Cross] to Malta on a collective basis on 15 April 1942 "to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history". Some historians argue that the award caused Britain to incur disproportionate losses in defending Malta, as British credibility would have suffered if Malta surrendered, as [|Singapore] had. [|[57]] A replica of the George Cross now appears in the upper hoist corner of the [|Flag of Malta]. The collective award remained unique until April 1999, when the [|Royal Ulster Constabulary] became the second – and, to date, the only other – recipient of a collective George Cross. [|[58]]

Independence and Republic
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> Malta joined the European Union in 2004 and signed the <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Lisbon Treaty] in 2007. Malta achieved its independence on 21 September 1964 ( [|Independence Day] ) after intense negotiations with the United Kingdom, led by Maltese Prime Minister [|George Borg Olivier]. Under its 1964 constitution, Malta initially retained Queen [|Elizabeth II] as [|Queen of Malta] and thus [|Head of State], with a [|Governor-General] exercising executive authority on her behalf. In 1971, the [|Malta Labour Party] led by [|Dom Mintoff] won the General Elections, resulting in Malta declaring itself a republic on 13 December 1974 ( [|Republic Day] ) within the [|Commonwealth], with the [|President] as [|head of state]. A defence agreement signed soon after independence (and re-negotiated in 1972) expired on 31 March 1979. Malta adopted a policy of [|neutrality] in 1980. In 1989, Malta was the venue of a [|summit] between US President [|George H.W. Bush] and Soviet leader [|Mikhail Gorbachev], their first face-to-face encounter, which signalled the end of the [|Cold War]. On 16 July 1990, Malta, through its foreign minister, [|Guido de Marco], applied to join the European Union. After tough negotiations, a referendum was held on 8 March 2003, which resulted in a favourable vote. General Elections held on 12 April 2003, gave a clear mandate to the Prime Minister, [|Eddie Fenech Adami], to sign the Treaty of accession to the European Union on 16 April 2003 in [|Athens] , Greece. Malta joined the [|European Union] on 1 May 2004. [|[59]] Following the European Council of 21–22 June 2007, Malta joined the [|Eurozone] on 1 January 2008. [|[60]]

Politics
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> The Courthouse, <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Valletta]. Main articles: [|Politics of Malta] and [|Government of Malta] Malta is a republic, [|[61]] whose [|parliamentary system] and [|public administration] is closely modeled on the [|Westminster system]. Malta had the second highest [|voter turnout] in the world (and the highest for nations without [|mandatory voting] ), based on election turnout in national [|lower house] elections from 1960 to 1995. [|[62]] The [|unicameral] [|House of Representatives], (Maltese: //Kamra tad-Deputati//), is elected by direct universal suffrage through [|single transferable vote] every five years, unless the House is dissolved earlier by the [|President] on advice of the [|Prime Minister]. The House of Representatives is made up of sixty-nine Members of Parliament. However, where a party wins an absolute majority of votes, but does not have a majority of seats, that party is given additional seats to ensure a parliamentary majority. The [|Constitution of Malta] provides that the President appoint as Prime Minister the member of the House who is best able to command a (governing) majority in the House. The [|President of Malta] is appointed for a five-year term by a resolution of the House of Representatives carried by a simple majority. The role of the President as head of state is largely ceremonial. The main political parties are the [|Nationalist Party], which is a [|Christian democratic] party, and the [|Labour Party] , which is a [|social democratic] party. The Nationalist Party is currently at the helm of the government, the Prime Minister being [|Lawrence Gonzi]. The Labour Party, with [|Joseph Muscat] as its leader, is in opposition. There are a number of smaller political parties in Malta that presently have no parliamentary representation. Until World War II Maltese politics was dominated by the [|language question] fought out by [|Italophile] and [|Anglophile] parties. [|[63]] Post-War politics dealt with constitutional questions on the relations with Britain (first with [|integration] then [|independence] ) and, eventually, relations with the [|European Union].

Administrative divisions
Main article: [|Local councils of Malta] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Administrative divisions] of Malta. Malta has had a system of local government since 1993, based on the [|European Charter of Local Self-Government]. There are at present 68 [|local councils] (54 in Malta and 14 in [|Gozo] ). Sixteen "hamlets", which form part of larger councils, have their own Administrative Committee. There are no intermediate levels between local government and national government and the levels of the six districts (five on the main island) and of the three regions (two on the main island) serve primarily statistical purposes. Each council is made up of a number of councillors (from five to eleven, depending and relative to the population they represent). A Mayor and a [|Deputy Mayor] are elected by and from the Councillors. The Executive Secretary, who is appointed by the council, is the executive, administrative and financial head of the council. Councillors are elected every four years through the [|single transferable vote]. People who are eligible to vote in the election of the Maltese [|House of Representatives] as well as resident [|citizens of the EU] are eligible to vote. Due to the recent reform of the system, no elections will be held before 2012 from when elections will be held every two years for an alternating half of the councils. Local councils are responsible for the general upkeep and embellishment of the locality (including repairs to non-arterial roads), allocation of local wardens and refuse collection; they also carry out general administrative duties for the central government such as collection of government rents and funds and answer government-related public inquiries.

Military
Main article: [|Armed Forces of Malta] The objectives of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) are to maintain a military organisation with the primary aim of defending the islands' integrity according to the defence roles as set by the government in an efficient and cost effective manner. This is achieved by emphasising the maintenance of Malta's territorial waters and airspace integrity. The AFM also engages in combating terrorism, fighting against illicit drug trafficking, conducting anti-illegal immigrant and anti-illegal fishing operations, operating [|Search and rescue] (SAR) services, and physical/electronic security/surveillance of sensitive locations. Malta's Search and Rescue area extends from east of Tunisia to west of Crete covering an area of around 250,000 km2. As a military organisation, the AFM provides backup support to the [|Malta Police Force] (MPF) and other government departments/agencies in situations as required in an organised, disciplined manner in the event of national emergencies (such as natural disasters) or internal security and bomb disposal. On another level, the AFM establishes and/or consolidates [|bilateral co-operation] with other countries to reach higher operational effectiveness related to AFM roles.
 * __EATEN TYPICAL OF THE COUNTRY__

Bread of Malta

Appetizers:

-Gbejniet: small round ideal cheeses to have lunch or to take in the appetizer. There is fresh air or in conserve. The most famous are those of Pleasure.

- Hobza: one of a lot of varieties of bread of Malta. A very creaking and spongy bread. Served only with a plate of fresh tomato and cheese it is a snack of more delcioso.

The first plates:

- Soppa such an-Armla: similar to the "minestra", this soup also is known as " the soup of the widow ". The vegetables are his principal ingredient, with a touch of "gbejniet" concrete.

- Aljotta: another type of soup, this time of fish, other one of the basic ingredients of the kitchen of Malta. The "aljotta" is a broth of fish adorned with very much garlic, tomatoes and rice. Similar to the weak rice that is cooked in some zones of Spain.

The second plates:

- Fenek: the rabbit is different of the most used ingredients Desserts:

- Figolla: though it is a more own plate of the Holy Week, it is possible to find in some restaurants the rest of the year. It is a question of glazed and stuffed cookies of a pasta of ground almond.


 * __SPORTS__

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">**Skin-diving**The principal sport in Malta is the skin-diving. Three principal Maltese islands are the second place of skin-diving preferred by the Europeans after the Red Sea. Here, divers can come in opened waters and in caves, both beginners and more experts. The places to dive are very near some of others, and go from natural ports up to remains of sunk ships happening for bays, sheltered, steep creeks, barriers of corral and labyrinthine caves. The temperatures of the sea are in the habit of courting the 23 ° in summer, and the 13-15 ° in winter, with .lo which one can dive all the year round. > As alternative to the skin-diving, it is possible to practise submarine photography. The Maltese waters are between the most limpid and whites of egg of the world, and have a visibility of up to 30 meters. Beside observing many species of fauna and flora (flying fishes, ánguilas moray, red mullets, perches of the sea, octopuses and the wonderful fish John Dory in winter), also it is possible to catch very well alive colors, especially the tones of red and orange, enclosedly without flash up to 12m of depth. > Later we give a list of some of the more popular places of skin-diving: > Saint Paul's Islands > They are the islands placed to the entry of Saint Paul's bay. In this place there is a barrier of corral that goes down 34m up to a sandy bottom where several species swim and look for his food. > **HMS Maori** > To the south of Saint Paul's bay, under St's Fort. Elmo, is the remains of the HMS Maori, a ship sunk in the Second World war, in 1942. They rest on a sandy bed to 13-17m of the surface. > > **Qawra Point** > We continue in the southern extremity of Saint Paul's bay. Here it is possible to observe the magnificent some and strangly formed sponges of sea in the light of a torch and lowering a slope of 40m. At the end of everything, there is > a cave in the shape of C with walls covered of brema. > **Ghar Lapsi** > It is a fishermen's placed pueblecito in the coast southwest of the island of Malta. To few distance of the local entry, there is a system of submarine caves slightly deep and illuminated by beams of the Sun that filter through his numerous exits. In this place also it is possible to find barriers of corral and depressions populated by many typical species of the Mediterranean. > <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: justify;">Dwejra Point > It is one of the more spectacular places of skin-diving of the whole Malta, with deep waters (up to 60m), many caves and arches. Between all that there is a tunnel of 35m that goes from the interior sea up to the open sea, where the bottom falls down sharply. This site is the most perfect for those who look for a marine abundant life. > > **San Dimitri Point** > This place is in the most western end of the island of Pleasure, and offers an exceptional visibility of up to 50m of depth. Few areas in the world have waters so clear waters. > **Merkanti Reef (St. Julian)** > It is a question of a barrier of corral placed in the suburbs of St's bay. Julian. Though it is possible to reach this place swimming from the land, it is better to move even there by ship. > **The Caves of Cumin** > This site has turned into one of most preferred by the people the one that likes to dive in caves. > **Cominotto Reef** > Between the islands of Cumin and Cominotto we find this barrier of corral which depth changes between 18 and 36m, and in that there are big singings rolled with caverns and holes where they hide creatures as the anemones burrowing. > > **Other sports** > Apart from the skin-diving, Malta offers facilities for the practice of many other sports. Great number of hotels include in his infrastructures sports facilities. > But the favorite sports between the visitors are the aquatic ones. And it is that Malta, due to his location and his climatic conditions, is a very good place to practise windsurfing, navigation to candle, waterskiing and ski of the jet. From the same beaches or in the hotels it is possible to rent the equipments adapted for these sports. > Those who prefer more calm and relaxing activities at the same time as they enjoy the incredible Maltese landscape can choose for a walk afoot or horse for the least urban and residential zones of the Maltese geography, and therefore less touched by the contemporary civilization (bays, cliffs, carrascales, etc.). > > As for the football, the national Selection of football of Malta is the representative equipment of the country in the official competitions. His organization is at the expense of the Association of Football of Malta, belonging to the UEFA. It is one of the weakest selections of the European continent and it has never classified to any final stage of international competitions. The League of Malta goes from September to May and one plays in the National Stadium. media type="youtube" key="nHL9_R-k6OE" height="315" width="420" align="center"

> >

Local festivals, similar to those in southern Italy, are commonplace in Malta and Gozo, celebrating weddings, [|christenings] and, most prominently, [|saints] ' days, honouring the patron saint of the local parish. On saints' days, the //festa// reaches its apex with a [|High Mass] featuring a sermon on the life and achievements of the patron saint, after which a [|statue] of the religious patron is taken around the local streets in solemn procession, with the faithful following in respectful [|prayer]. The religious atmosphere quickly gives way to several days of revelry, band processions, [|fireworks], and late night parties. Lija is one villages with a notable firework display. > ** [|Carnival] ** (Maltese: //il-karnival ta' Malta//) has had an important place on the cultural calendar after [|Grand Master] [|Piero de Ponte] introduced it to the Islands in 1535. It is held during the week leading up to [|Ash Wednesday], and typically includes masked balls, fancy dress and grotesque mask competitions, lavish late-night parties, a colourful, ticker-tape parade of allegorical [|floats] presided over by King Carnival (Maltese: //ir-Re tal-Karnival//), marching bands and costumed revellers. > ** [|Holy Week] ** (Maltese: //il-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa//) starts on [|Palm Sunday] (//Ħadd il-Palm//) and ends on [|Easter Sunday] (//Ħadd il-Għid//). Numerous religious traditions, most of them inherited from one generation to the next, are part of the [|paschal] celebrations in the Maltese Islands, honouring the death and resurrection of Jesus. > **Mnarja**, or l-Imnarja (pronounced //lim-nar-ya//) is one of the most important dates on the Maltese cultural calendar. Officially, it is a national festival dedicated to the feast of [|Saints] [|Peter] and [|St. Paul]. In fact, one can trace its roots back to the pagan [|Roman] feast of //Luminaria// (literally, "the illumination"), when torches and bonfires lit up the early summer night of 29 June. > A national feast since the rule of the [|Knights], Mnarja is a traditional Maltese festival of food, religion and music. The festivities still commence today with the reading of the //"bandu"//, an official governmental announcement, which has been read on this day in Malta since the 16th century. Originally, Mnarja was celebrated outside St. Paul's Grotto, in the north of Malta. However, by 1613 the focus of the festivities had shifted to the Cathedral of [|St. Paul], in [|Mdina] , and featured torchlight processions, the firing of 100 petards, horseraces, and races for men, boys and slaves. Modern Mnarja festivals take place in and around the woodlands of [|Buskett], just outside the town of [|Rabat]. > It is said that under the Knights, this was the one day in the year when the Maltese were allowed to hunt and eat [|wild rabbit], which was otherwise reserved for the hunting pleasures of the Knights. The close connection between Mnarja and rabbit stew (Maltese: //"fenkata"//) remains strong today. > In 1854 British governor [|William Reid] launched an agricultural show at Buskett which is still being held today. The farmers' exhibition is still a seminal part of the Mnarja festivities today. > Mnarja today is one of the few occasions when participants may hear traditional Maltese " [|għana] ". Traditionally, grooms would promise to take their brides to Mnarja during the first of year of marriage. For luck, many of the brides would attend in their wedding gown and veil, although this custom has long since disappeared from the Islands. > In 2009 the first New Year's Eve street party was organized in Malta, parallel to what other major countries in the world organize. Although the event was not highly advertised and controversial, due to the closing of an arterial street on the day, it is deemed to have been successful and will most likely be organized every year. > Rural Malta shares in common with Mediterranean and traditional Jewish society a number of superstitions regarding fertility, menstruation, and pregnancy, including the avoidance of cemeteries during the months leading up to childbirth, and avoiding the preparation of certain foods during menses. Pregnant women are encouraged to satisfy their cravings for specific foods, out of fear that their unborn child will bear a representational birth mark (Maltese: //xewqa//, literally "desire" or "craving"). Maltese and Sicilian women also share certain traditions that are believed to predict the sex of an unborn child, such as the cycle of the moon on the anticipated date of birth, whether the baby is carried "high" or "low" during pregnancy, and the movement of a wedding ring, dangled on a string above the abdomen (sideways denoting a girl, back and forth denoting a boy). > Traditionally, Maltese newborns were baptised as promptly as possible, partly out of fear of [|limbo] should the child die in infancy, and partly because according to Maltese (and Sicilian) folklore an unbaptised child is not yet a Christian, but "still a Turk". Traditional Maltese delicacies served at a baptismal feast include //biskuttini tal-magħmudija// (almond macaroons covered in white or pink icing),//it-torta tal-marmorata// (a spicy, heart-shaped tart of chocolate-flavoured almond paste), and a liqueur known as //rożolin//, made with rose petals, violets and almonds. > On a child's first birthday, in a tradition that still survives today, Maltese parents would organize a game known as //il-quċċija//, where a variety of symbolic objects would be randomly placed around the seated child. These may include a hard-boiled egg, a Bible, [|crucifix] or [|rosary beads], a book, and so on. Whichever object the child shows most interest in is said to reveal the child's path and fortunes in adulthood. > Money refers to a rich future while a book expresses intelligence and a possible career as a teacher. Infants who select a pencil or pen will be writers. Choosing bibles or rosary beads refers to a clerical or monastic life. If the child chooses a hard-boiled egg, it will have a long life and many children. More recent additions include calculators (refers to accounting), thread (fashion) and wooden spoons (cooking and a great appetite). <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> Recreation of a traditional Maltese 18th century wedding Traditional Maltese weddings featured the bridal party walking in procession beneath an ornate canopy, from the home of the bride's family to the parish church, with singers trailing behind serenading the bride and groom. The Maltese word for this custom is //il-ġilwa//. This custom along with many others has long since disappeared from the Islands, in the face of modern practices. > New wives would wear the [|għonnella], a traditional item of Maltese clothing. However, it is no longer worn in modern Malta. Today's couples are married in churches or chapels in the village or town of their choice. The nuptials are usually followed by a lavish wedding reception, often including several hundred guests. Occasionally, couples will try to incorporate elements of the traditional Maltese wedding in their celebration. A resurgent interest in the traditional wedding was evident in May 2007, when thousands of Maltese and tourists attended a traditional Maltese wedding in the style of the 16th century, in the Village of [|Żurrieq]. This included //il-ġilwa//, which led the bride and groom to a wedding ceremony that took place on the parvis of St. Andrew's Chapel. The reception that followed featured folklore music (// [|għana] //) and dancing. Malta is classified as an [|advanced economy] together with 32 other countries according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). [|[73]] Until 1800 Malta depended on cotton, tobacco and its shipyards for exports. After the British arrived, they came to depend on the [|dockyard] for support of the [|Royal Navy], especially during the [|Crimean War] of 1854. The military base benefited craftsmen and all those who served the military. In 1869, the opening of the [|Suez Canal] gave Malta's economy a great boost, as there was a massive increase in the shipping which entered the port. Ships stopping at Malta's docks for refuelling helped the [|Entrepôt] trade, which brought additional benefits to the island. However, towards the end of the 19th century the economy began declining, and by the 1940s Malta's economy was in serious crisis. One factor was the longer range of newer merchant ships that required less frequent refuelling stops.
 * __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 26px;">FESTIVALS __
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 26px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">TRADITIONS Traditional Maltese proverbs reveal a cultural preoccupation with childbearing and fertility: "//iż-żwieġ mingħajr tarbija ma fihx tgawdija"// (a childless marriage cannot be a happy one). This is a belief that Malta shares with many other Mediterranean cultures. In Maltese folktales the local variant of the classic closing formula, "and they all lived happily ever after" is "//u għammru u tgħammru, u spiċċat//" (and they lived together, and they had children together, and the tale is finished). [|[124]]
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 26px;">ECONOMY

Currently, Malta's major resources are [|limestone], a favourable geographic location and a productive labour force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited freshwater supplies and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade (serving as a freight trans-shipment point), manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles) and tourism. Malta is a popular tourist destination, with 1.2 million tourists every year. [|[3]] Three times more tourists visit than there are residents. Tourism infrastructure has increased dramatically over the years and a number of good-quality hotels are present on the island, although overdevelopment and the destruction of traditional housing is of growing concern. An increasing number of Maltese now travel abroad on holiday. [|[74]] Although they are still a net importer of tourism, the ratio of inbound tourists to outbound tourists is decreasing. [|Film production] is a growing contributor to the Maltese economy, with several big-budget foreign films shooting in Malta each year. The country has increased the exports of many other types of services such as banking and finance. <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">Malta is part of a monetary union, the <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Eurozone] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">(dark blue) The government is investing heavily in education, including college. In preparation for Malta's membership in the [|European Union], which it joined on 1 May 2004, it [|privatised] some state-controlled firms and liberalised markets. For example, the government announced on 8 January 2007 that it is selling its 40% stake in [|MaltaPost], in order to complete a privatisation process which has been ongoing for the past five years. In 2010, Malta has managed to privatize telecommunications, postal services, shipyards and shipbuilding. Malta and [|Tunisia] are currently discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for petroleum exploration. These discussions are also undergoing between Malta and [|Libya] for similar arrangements. Malta does not have a property tax. According to [|Eurostat] data, Maltese PPS GDP per capita stood at 76 per cent of the EU average in 2008.

Traffic in Malta [|moves on the left], as in the UK. Car ownership in Malta is exceedingly high, given the very small size of the islands; it is the fourth highest in the European Union. The number of registered cars in 1990 amounted to 182,254, giving an automobile density of 582 /km2 (1,510 /sq mi). [|[77]] Malta has 2,254 kilometres (1,401 mi) of road, 1,972 km (1,225 mi) (87.5%) of which are paved and 282 km (175 mi) were unpaved (December 2003). [|[78]] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> Maltese bus The main roads of Malta from the southest point to the northest point are these: Triq Birżebbuġa in [|Birżebbuġa], [|Għar Dalam] Road and [|Tal-Barrani] Road in [|Żejtun] , Santa Luċija Avenue in [|Raħal Ġdid (Paola), Malta] , Aldo Moro Street (Trunk Road), 13 December Street and [|Ħamrun] -Marsa Bypass in [|Marsa, Malta] , Regional Road in [|Santa Venera] / [|Msida] / [|Gżira] / [|San Ġwann] , St Andrew's Road in [|Swieqi] / [|Pembroke, Malta] , Coast Road in [|Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq] , Salina Road, Kennedy Drive, St. Paul's Bypass and [|Xemxija] Hill in [|San Pawl il-Baħar] , [|Mistra] Hill, Wettinger Street (Mellieħa Bypass) and Marfa Road in [|Mellieħa]. <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> Principal highways [|Buses] (//xarabank// or //karozza tal-linja//) are the primary method of public transport. Established in 1905, the service underwent an extensive reform in July 2011. The management structure changed from having self-employed drivers driving their own vehicles to a service being offered by a single company through a public tender (in Gozo, being considered as a small network, the service was given through direct order). [|[79]] The public tender was won by Arriva Malta, a member of the [|Arriva] group. The new service includes a day and night services. The fast Crossline services operating at a frequency of 30 minutes. The Crossline service shall connect with Mainline services, which will operate at a frequency of between 10 and 30 minutes. At regional and local levels the feeder lines will serve villages and neighbouring areas at a frequency of 30 minutes. Interchanges are located in Valletta, [|Mater Dei Hospital], [|Swieqi] , [|Paola] , [|Marsa] , [|Malta International Airport] and [|Msida]. Between 1883 and 1931, Malta had a railway line that connected [|Valletta] to the army barracks at [|Mtarfa] via [|Mdina] and a number of towns and villages. The railway fell into disuse and eventually closed altogether, following the introduction of electric trams and buses. At the height of the bombing of Malta during World War II, [|Mussolini] announced that his forces had destroyed the railway system but by the time war broke out, the railway had been mothballed for more than nine years. <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Grand Harbour] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Malta Freeport], one of the largest European ports. Malta has three large natural harbours on its main island, these include the [|Grand Harbour] in Valletta and [|Marsamxett] Harbour within close proximity There are also two man-made harbours that serve a passenger and car ferry service that connects [|Ċirkewwa Harbour] on Malta and [|Mġarr Harbour] on [|Gozo]. The ferry makes numerous runs each day. <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Malta International Airport] [|Malta International Airport] (Ajruport Internazzjonali ta' Malta) is the only airport serving the Maltese Islands. It is built on the land formerly occupied by the [|RAF] [|Luqa] air base. A heliport is also located there, but the scheduled service to Gozo ceased in 2006. The heliport in Gozo is at [|Xewkija]. Since June 2007, [|Harbour Air Malta] has operated a thrice-daily floatplane service between the sea terminal in Grand Harbour and Mgarr Harbour in Gozo. Two further airfields at [|Ta' Qali] and [|Ħal Far] airfields operated during World War II and into the 1960s but are now closed. Today, [|Ta' Qali] houses a national park, [|stadium], the Crafts Village visitor attraction and the [|Malta Aviation Museum]. This museum preserves several aircraft, including [|Hurricane] and [|Spitfire] fighters that defended the island in World War II. <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> An <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Air Malta] plane The national airline is [|Air Malta], which is based at Malta International Airport, and which operates services to 36 destinations in Europe and North Africa. The owners of Air Malta are the [|Government of Malta] (98%) and private investors (2%). Air Malta employs 1,547 staff. It has a 25% shareholding in [|Medavia]. Air Malta has concluded over 191 interline ticketing agreements with other IATA airlines. It also has a codeshare agreement with Qantas covering the following routes: Sydney–Singapore–Heathrow–Malta, Sydney–Bangkok–Heathrow–Malta and Melbourne–Singapore–Heathrow–Malta. In September 2007, Air Malta made two agreements with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways by which Air Malta wet-leased two Airbus aircraft to Etihad Airways for the winter period starting 1 September 2007, and provided operational support on another Airbus A320, aircraft which it leased to Etihad Airways.
 * __<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 26px;">TRANSPORT __
 * The [|Grand Harbour] (or Port il-Kbir), located at the eastern side of the capital city of [|Valletta], has been a harbour since [|Roman] times. It has several extensive [|docks] and [|wharves] , as well as a cruise liner terminal. A terminal at the Grand Harbour serves [|ferries] that connect Malta to [|Pozzallo] & [|Catania] in Sicily.
 * [|Marsamxett Harbour], located on the western side of Valletta, accommodates a number of yacht marinas.
 * [|Marsaxlokk Harbour] (Malta Freeport), at [|Marsaxlokk] on the south-eastern side of Malta, is the islands' main cargo terminal. Malta Freeport is the [|11th busiest container ports in continent of Europe and 46th in the World] with a trade volume of 2.3 million [|TEU's] in 2008. [|[80]]

<span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Valletta] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">, Malta's historical capital city Malta conducts a census of population and housing every ten years. The census held in November 2005 managed to count an estimated 96% of the population[// [|citation needed] //]. A preliminary report was issued in April 2006, and results were weighted to an estimate for 100% of the population. > Native [|Maltese people] make up the majority of the island. However there are minorities, the largest of which are [|British people], many of whom retired to Malta. The population of Malta as of July 2011 was estimated at 408,000. [|[85]] As of 2005, 17% were aged 14 and under, 68% were within the 15–64 age bracket whilst the remaining 13% were 65 years and over. Malta's population density of 1,282 per square kilometer (3,322/sq mi) is by far the highest in the EU, and one of the [|highest] in the world. The only census year showing a fall in population was that of 1967, with a 1.7% total decrease, attributable to a substantial number of Maltese residents who emigrated. [|[6]] > The Maltese-resident population for 2004 was estimated to make up 97.0% of the total resident population. [|[86]] > All censuses since 1842 have shown a slight excess of females over males. The 1901 and 1911 censuses came closest to recording a balance. The highest female-to-male ratio was reached in 1957 (1088:1000), and since the ratio has been constantly dropping. The 2005 census showed a 1013:1000 female-to-male ratio. Population growth has slowed down, from +9.5% between the 1985 and 1995 censuses, to +6.9% between the 1995 and 2005 censuses (a yearly average of +0.7%). The birth rate stood at 3860 (a decrease of 21.8% from the 1995 census) and the death rate stood at 3025. Thus, there was a natural population increase of 835 (compared to +888 for 2004, of which over a hundred were foreign residents). [|[87]] > <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">The <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Valletta Waterfront] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; display: block; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">illuminations The population's age composition is similar to the age structure prevalent in the EU. Since 1967 there was observed a trend indicating an ageing population, and is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. Malta's [|old-age-dependency-ratio] rose from 17.2% in 1995 to 19.8% in 2005, reasonably lower than the EU's 24.9% average. In fact, 31.5% of the Maltese population is aged under 25 (compared to the EU's 29.1%); but the 50–64 age group constitutes 20.3% of the population, significantly higher than the EU's 17.9%. In conclusion, Malta's old-age-dependency-ratio is expected to continue rising steadily in the coming years. > Maltese legislation recognizes both civil and canonical (ecclesiastical) marriages. Annulments by the ecclesiastical and civil courts are unrelated and are not necessarily mutually endorsed. Malta voted in favor of divorce legislation in a referendum held on 28 May 2011. [|[88]] Abortion in Malta is illegal. A person must be 16 to marry. [|[89]] The number of brides aged under 25 decreased from 1471 in 1997 to 766 in 2005; while the number of grooms under 25 decreased from 823 to 311. There is a constant trend that females are more likely than males to marry young. In 2005 there were 51 brides aged between 16 and 19, compared to 8 grooms. [|[87]] > At the end of 2007 the population of the Maltese Islands stood at 410,290 and is expected to reach 424,028 by 2025. At the moment, females slightly outnumber males, making up 50.3 per cent of the population. The largest proportion of persons – 7.5 per cent – were aged 25–29, while there were 7.3% falling into each of the 45–49 and 55–59 age brackets. [|[90]] > >
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 26px;">__DEMOGRAPHY__

Languages
> Maltese is originally a [|Semitic language] descended from [|Siculo-Arabic] (from [|southern Italy] ). [|[91]] The [|Maltese alphabet] consists of 30 letters based on the [|Latin alphabet], including the [|diacritically] altered letters // [|ż] //, // [|ċ] // and // [|ġ] //, as well as the letters // [|għ] //, // [|ħ] //, and // [|ie] //. > Maltese has a semitic base with substantial borrowing from [|Sicilian], Italian, a little French, and more recently, and increasingly, English. [|[92]] The language includes different dialects that can vary strongly from one town to another or from one island to another. > The [|Eurobarometer] states that 100% of the population speak Maltese. Also, 88% of the population speak English, 66% speak Italian, and 17% speak French. [|[93]] This widespread knowledge of [|second languages] makes Malta one of the most multi-lingual countries in the [|European Union]. A study collecting public opinion on what language was "preferred" discovered that 86% of the population express a preference for Maltese, 12% for English, and 2% for Italian. [|[94]] Still, Italian television channels from Italy-based broadcasters, such as [|Mediaset] and [|RAI], reach Malta and remain popular. [|[] > === Religion ===

The Constitution of Malta declares [|Roman Catholicism] as the state religion although [|entrenched provisions] for the freedom of religion are made. Freedom House and the World Factbook report that 98% of the population is Roman Catholic, making the nation one of the most Catholic countries in the world. > There are more than 360 churches in Malta, Gozo, and Comino, or one church for every 1,000 residents. The parish church (Maltese: //"il-parroċċa"//, or //"il-knisja parrokjali"//) is the architectural and geographic focal point of every Maltese town and village, and its main source of civic pride. This civic pride manifests itself in spectacular fashion during the local village //festas//, which mark the day of the patron saint of each parish with marching bands, religious processions, special [|Masses], [|fireworks] (especially petards), and other festivities. <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> The <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Mosta Dome] known as "Ir-Rotunda" Malta is an [|Apostolic See] ; the [|Acts of the Apostles] tells of how Christians believe [|St. Paul], on his way from Crete to Rome to face trial, was shipwrecked on the island of "Melite", which many Bible scholars identify with Malta, an episode dated around AD 60. [|[15]] The Acts of the Apostles says [|St. Paul] spent three months on the island, curing the sick including the father of Publius, the "chief man of the island". Various traditions are associated with this account. The shipwreck is said to have occurred in the place today known as [|St Paul's Bay]. [|Saint Publius] is said to have been made Malta's first bishop and a grotto in [|Rabat], now known as "St Paul's Grotto" (and in the vicinity of which evidence of Christian burials and rituals from the 3rd century AD has been found), is amongst the earliest known places of Christian worship on the island. > Further evidence of Christian practices and beliefs during the period of Roman persecution appears in [|catacombs] that lie beneath various sites around Malta, including St Paul's Catacombs and St Agatha's Catacombs in [|Rabat], just outside the walls of [|Mdina]. The latter, in particular, were beautifully frescoed between 1200 and 1480, although marauding [|Turks] defaced many of them in the 1550s. There are also a number of cave churches, including the grotto at [|Mellieħa], which is a Shrine of the Nativity of Our Lady where, according to legend, [|St. Luke] painted a picture of the [|Madonna]. It has been a place of pilgrimage since [|medieval] times. > The Acts of the [|Council of Chalcedon] record that in 451 AD, a certain Acacius was Bishop of Malta (//Melitenus Episcopus//). It is also known that in 501 AD, a certain Constantinus, //Episcopus Melitenensis//, was present at the [|Fifth Ecumenical Council]. In 588 AD, [|Pope Gregory I] deposed Tucillus, //Miletinae civitatis episcopus//, and the clergy and people of Malta elected his successor Trajan in 599 AD. The last recorded Bishop of Malta before the invasion of the Islands was a Greek by the name of Manas, who was subsequently incarcerated at [|Palermo]. [|[97]] > Maltese historian, [|Giovanni Francesco Abela], states that following their conversion to Christianity at the hand of [|St. Paul] , the Maltese retained their Christian religion, despite the [|Fatimid] invasion. [|[98]] Abela's writings describe Malta as a divinely ordained "bulwark of Christian, European civilization against the spread of Mediterranean Islam". [|[99]] The native Christian community that welcomed [|Roger I of Sicily][|[25]] was further bolstered by immigration to Malta from Italy, in the 12th and 13th centuries. <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Żejtun] city centre Parish church For centuries, the Church in Malta was subordinate to the [|Diocese of Palermo], except when it was under [|Charles of Anjou] , who appointed bishops for Malta, as did – on rare occasions – the Spanish and later, the Knights. Since 1808 all bishops of Malta have been Maltese. As a result of the [|Norman] and Spanish periods, and the rule of the Knights, Malta became the devout Catholic nation that it is today. It is worth noting that the Office of the [|Inquisitor of Malta] had a very long tenure on the island following its establishment in 1530: the last Inquisitor departed from the Islands in 1798, after the Knights capitulated to the forces of [|Napoleon Bonaparte]. During the period of the [|Republic of Venice], several Maltese families emigrated to [|Corfu]. Their descendants account for about two-thirds of the community of some 4000 Catholics that now live on that island. > The patron saints of Malta are [|Saint Paul], [|Saint Publius] , [|Saint Agatha] and [|Saint George]. Although not a patron saint, [|St George Preca] (San Ġorġ Preca) is greatly revered as the first canonised Maltese saint. [|Pope Benedict XVI] canonised him on 3 June 2007. Also, a number of Maltese individuals are recognised as [|Blessed], including [|Maria Adeodata Pisani] and [|Nazju Falzon] , with [|Pope John Paul II] having [|beatified] them in 2001. > Various Roman Catholic religious orders are present in Malta, including the [|Jesuits], [|Franciscans] , [|Dominicans] and [|Little Sisters of the Poor]. > Most congregants of the local [|Protestant] churches are not Maltese; their congregations draw on the many British retirees living in the country and vacationers from many other nations. There are approximately 500 [|Jehovah's Witnesses] ; [|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] (Mormons), the [|Bible Baptist Church], and the [|Fellowship of Evangelical Churches] have about 60 affiliates. There are also some churches of other denominations, such as [|St. Andrew's Scots Church] in Valletta (a joint [|Presbyterian] and [|Methodist] congregation) and [|St Paul's Anglican Cathedral], as well as a [|Seventh-day Adventist] church in [|Birkirkara]. > The Jewish population of Malta reached its peak in the Middle Ages under Norman rule. In 1479, Malta and [|Sicily] came under [|Aragonese] rule and the [|Alhambra Decree] of 1492 forced all Jews to leave the country, permitting them to take with them only a few of their belongings. Several dozen Maltese Jews may have [|converted] to Christianity at the time in order to remain in the country. Today, there is one Jewish congregation. > [|Zen Buddhism] and the [|Bahá'í Faith] claim some 40 members. There is one Muslim mosque. A Muslim primary school recently opened; its existence remains a point of some controversy. Of the estimated 3,000 [|Muslims in Malta], approximately 2,250 are foreigners, approximately 600 are naturalized citizens, and approximately 150 are native-born Maltese. [|[100]] > === Migration === EU nationals require neither a [|visa] nor a passport (an ID card or an expired passport are enough) to enter the country. Citizens of some developed countries do not need a visa and can live in Malta for up to three months providing they have a valid passport[// [|citation needed] //]. Visas for other nationalities are valid for one month. Immigrants with EU citizenship (except Romanian and Bulgarian citizens) are no longer required to apply for a work permit. [|[101]] > The estimated net inflow (using data for 2002 to 2004) was of 1,913 persons yearly. Over the last 10 years, Malta accepted back a yearly average of 425 returning emigrants. [|[86]] > During 2006, a total of 1,800 illegal immigrants reached Malta making the crossing from the North African coast. Most of them intended to reach mainland Europe and happened to come to Malta due to their sub-standard vessels breaking down or being caught by Maltese and other EU officials. [|[102]][|[103]] In the first half of 2006, 967 irregular immigrants arrived in Malta – almost double the 473 who arrived in the same period in 2005. [|[104]] Many immigrants have perished in the journey across the Mediterranean, with one notable incident being the [|May 2007 Malta migrant boat disaster]. > Around 45% of immigrants landed in Malta have been granted [|refugee] (5%) or protected humanitarian status (40%). A [|White Paper] suggesting the grant of Maltese citizenship to refugees resident in Malta for over ten years was issued in 2005. Historically Malta gave refuge (and assisted in their resettlement) to eight hundred or so East African Asians who had been expelled from [|Uganda] by [|Idi Amin] and to just under a thousand [|Iraqis] fleeing [|Saddam Hussein] 's regime. > Detention costs for the first half of 2006 alone cost € 746,385. [|[105]] > In 2005, Malta sought EU aid in relation to reception of irregular immigrants, repatriation of those denied refugee status, resettlement of refugees into EU countries, and maritime security. [|[106]] In December 2005, the European Council adopted //The Global Approach to Migration: Priority Actions focusing on Africa and the Mediterranean//; but the deployment of said actions has been limited to the western Mediterranean, thus putting further pressure on the central Mediterranean route for irregular immigration of which Malta forms a part. > In the 19th century, most emigration from Malta was to North Africa and the Middle East, although rates of [|return migration] to Malta were high. [|[107]] Nonetheless, Maltese communities formed in these regions. By 1900, for example, British consular estimates suggest that there were 15,326 Maltese in [|Tunisia], and in 1903 it was claimed that 15,000 people of Maltese origin were living in [|Algeria]. [|[108]] > Malta experienced significant emigration as a result of the collapse of a construction boom in 1907 and after World War II, when the [|birth rate] increased significantly, but in the 20th century most emigrants went to destinations in the [|New World], particularly the United States and Australia. After World War II, Malta's Emigration Department would assist emigrants with the cost of their travel. Between 1948 and 1967, 30 per cent of the population emigrated. [|[107]] Between 1946 and the late 1970s, over 140,000 people left Malta on the assisted passage scheme, with 57.6% migrating to Australia, 22% to the UK, 13% to Canada and 7% to the United States. [|[109]] Education

Emigration dropped dramatically after the mid-1970s and has since ceased to be a social phenomenon of significance. However, since Malta joined the EU in 2004 [|expatriate] communities emerged in a number of European countries particularly in [|Belgium] and [|Luxembourg]. Main article: [|Education in Malta] See also: [|List of schools in Malta] Primary schooling has been compulsory since 1946; secondary education up to the age of sixteen was made compulsory in 1971. The state and the [|Church] provide education free of charge, both running a number of schools in Malta and [|Gozo], including [|De La Salle College] in [|Cospicua] , [|St. Aloysius' College] in [|Birkirkara] , St. Joseph's School in [|Blata l-Bajda] and [|Saint Monica Girls' School] in [|Mosta]. A number of private schools are run in Malta, including [|San Andrea School] and [|San Anton School] in the valley of L-Imselliet (l/o [|Mġarr] ), [|St. Martin's College] in Swatar and St. Michael's School in [|San Ġwann]. As of 2008, there are two international schools, Verdala International School and QSI Malta. The state pays a portion of the teachers' salary in Church schools. [|[111]] > Education in Malta is based on the [|British model]. Primary school lasts six years. At the age of 11 pupils sit for an examination to enter a secondary school, either a [|church school] (the Common Entrance Examination) or a [|state school]. Pupils sit for SEC [|O-level] examinations at the age of 16, with passes obligatory in certain subjects such as [|mathematics], English and [|Maltese]. Pupils may opt to continue studying at a [|sixth form college] such as Junior College, [|St Aloysius' College], [|De La Salle College] , St Edward's College or else at another post-secondary institution such as [|MCAST]. The sixth form course lasts for two years, at the end of which students sit for the Matriculation examination. Subject to their performance, students may then apply for an undergraduate [|degree] or diploma. > The [|University of Malta] (U.o.M.) provides Tertiary education at diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate level. The adult [|literacy rate] is 92.8%. [|[112]] > > Maltese and English are both used to teach students at primary and secondary school level, and both languages are also compulsory subjects. [|Public schools] tend to use both Maltese and English in a balanced manner. Private schools prefer to use English for teaching, as is also the case with most departments of the [|University of Malta] ; this has a limiting effect on the capacity and development of the Maltese language. [|[94]] Most university courses are in English. [|[91]] > Of the total number of students studying a first foreign language at secondary level, 51% take Italian whilst 38% take French. Other choices include German, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic. [|[94]][|[113]] > === Healthcare === Malta has a long history of providing [|publicly funded health care]. The first hospital recorded in the country was already functioning by 1372. [|[114]] Today, Malta has both a public healthcare system, known as the government healthcare service, where healthcare is free at the point of delivery, and a [|private healthcare] system. [|[115]][|[116]] Malta has a strong general practitioner-delivered primary care base and the public hospitals provide secondary and tertiary care. The Maltese Ministry of Health advises foreign residents to take out private medical insurance. [|[117]] > Malta was ranked number five in the [|World Health Organization] 's ranking of the world's health systems, [|[118]] compared to the [|United States] (at 37), [|Australia] (at 32), [|United Kingdom] (at 18) and [|Canada] (at 30). The healthcare system in Malta closely resembles the British system, [|[119]] as healthcare is free at the point of delivery. > Malta also boasts voluntary organisations such as [|St John Ambulance], who provide first aid/nursing services during events involving crowds. > Main article: [|List of hospitals in Malta] The [|Mater Dei Hospital], Malta's primary hospital, opened in 2007. It has one of the largest medical buildings in Europe. Other government hospitals in Malta include: In addition, Malta has three major private hospitals: St Mark's Clinic, in Msida, with a capacity of 5 beds, also offers some private hospital services. [|[119]] <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> Maltese student checking <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|blood pressure] The [|University of Malta] has a [|medical school], and a Faculty of [|Health Sciences]. The latter offering diploma, (BSc)degree and postgraduate degree courses in a number of health care disciplines. > The [|Medical Association of Malta] represents practitioners of the medical profession. [|MMSA] is a separate body representing Maltese medical students, and is a member of [|EMSA] and [|IFMSA]. [|MIME], the Maltese Institute for Medical Education, is an institute set up recently to provide CME to doctors in Malta as well as medical students. The [|Foundation Program] followed in the UK has been introduced in Malta in order to stem the 'brain drain' of newly graduated doctors to the British Isles. [|MADS], the Malta Association of Dental Students, is a student association set up to promote the rights of Dental Surgery Students studying within the faculty of Dental Surgery of the University of Malta. It is affiliated with [|IADS], the International Association of Dental Students.
 * Paul Boffa Hospital, an oncology hospital in Floriana
 * St Vincent De Paule Hospital, a geriatrics hospital
 * Gozo General Hospital, the only hospital on Gozo
 * [|St Philip's Hospital], with a capacity of 75 beds, is in Santa Venera (currently closed).
 * [|St James Capua Hospital] (the former Capua Palace Hospital), with 80 beds, is in Sliema.
 * St James Hospital has several sites, including a 13 bed unit in Zabbar, as well as a partner hospital in [|Libya].

> > === Music === > Main article: [|Music of Malta] > <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Manoel Theatre], Europe's third-oldest working theatre. Now Malta's National Theatre and home to the <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;">[|Malta Philharmonic Orchestra]. While Maltese music today is largely Western, traditional Maltese music includes what is known as [|għana]. This consists of background [|folk guitar] music, while a few people, generally men, take it in turns to argue a point in a sing-song voice. The aim of the lyrics, which are improvised, is to create a friendly yet challenging atmosphere, and it takes a number of years of practice to be able to combine the required artistic qualities with the ability to [|debate] effectively. > > === [ [|edit] ] Literature === > Main article: [|Maltese literature] Documented Maltese literature is over 200 years old. However a recently unearthed love ballad testifies to literary activity in the local tongue from the Medieval period. Malta followed a Romantic literary tradition, culminating in the works of [|Dun Karm], Malta's National Poet. Subsequent writers like [|Ruzar Briffa] and Karmenu Vassallo tried to estrange themselves from the rigidity of formal themes and versification. > It was late in the 1960s that Maltese literature experienced its most radical transformation amongst poets, prose writers and dramatists. Names of significant poets that stand out from the last quarter of the 20th century include [|Mario Azzopardi], Victor Fenech, Oliver Friggieri, [|Joe Friggieri] , Charles Flores, Daniel Massa, Maria Ganado, Lillian Sciberras and Akille Mizzi. In prose, [|Frans Sammut], Paul P. Borg and Joe J. Camilleri led the [|avant-garde] meanwhile among the prominent names in theatre are [|Francis Ebejer] , [|Alfred Sant] , Doreen Micallef, Oreste Calleja, Joe Friggieri and Martin Gauci. > The next generation of writers widened the tracks further, especially in prose. Guze' Stagno, [|Karl Schembri] and Clare Azzopardi are young writers fast establishing themselves while in poetry, significant names include Adrian Grima, [|Immanuel Mifsud], Norbert Bugeja and Simone Inguanez. > > <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> Typical architecture built in recent years in Malta. In literary criticism, [|Peter Serracino Inglott], Oliver Friggieri and Charles Briffa introduced perceptive historical, philosophical and psycho-social themes into Maltese theory. > Other writers, born in Malta or of Maltese descent, have established careers abroad. These included the novelist [|Trezza Azzopardi], best-selling children's author [|Saviour Pirotta] and comic-book artist/journalist [|Joe Sacco]. > > === [ [|edit] ] Art and architecture === <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> Lower Barrakka Gardens Malta has a long history of architecture, influenced by many different Mediterranean cultures over its history, and most recently, British architecture. The first settlers on the island constructed [|Ġgantija], one of the oldest manmade freestanding structure in the world. Malta is currently undergoing large scale building projects that includes constructions such as [|SmartCity Malta], the [|M-Towers] , and [|Pendergardens] , while areas such as the [|Valletta Waterfront] and [|Tigne Point] are receiving renovation. > The Neolithic temple builders 3800–2500 BC endowed the numerous temples of Malta and Gozo with intricate bas relief designs, including spirals evocative of the tree of life and animal portraits, designs painted in red ochre, ceramics, and a vast collection of human form sculptures, particularly the Venus of Malta. These can be viewed at the temples themselves (most notably, the [|Hypogeum] and Tarxien Temples), and at the National Museum of Archaeology in [|Valletta]. > The Roman period introduced highly decorative mosaic floors, marble colonnades and classical statuary, remnants of which are beautifully preserved and presented in the Roman Domus, a country villa just outside the walls of [|Mdina]. The early Christian frescoes that decorate the [|catacombs] beneath Malta reveal a propensity for eastern, [|Byzantine] tastes. These tastes continued to inform the endeavours of [|medieval] Maltese artists, but they were increasingly influenced by the [|Romanesque] and [|Southern Gothic] movements. Towards the end of the 15th century, Maltese artists, like their counterparts in neighbouring Sicily, came under the influence of the School of [|Antonello da Messina], which introduced [|Renaissance] ideals and concepts to the decorative arts in Malta. [|[120]] Saint Jerome Writing ||||= || > ||~ Artist || [|Caravaggio] || > ||~ Year || c. 1607/1608 || > ||~ Type || Oil on canvas || > ||~ Dimensions || 117 cm × 157 cm (46 in × 62 in) || > ||~ Location || St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta || The artistic heritage of Malta blossomed under the [|Knights of St. John], who brought Italian and Flemish [|Mannerist] painters to decorate their palaces and the churches of these islands, most notably, [|Matteo Perez d'Aleccio] , whose works appear in the [|Magisterial Palace] and in the [|Conventual Church of St. John] in Valletta, and Filippo Paladini, who was active in Malta from 1590 to 1595. For many years, Mannerism continued to inform the tastes and ideals of local Maltese artists. [|[120]] > The arrival in Malta of [|Caravaggio], who painted at least seven works during his 15-month stay on these islands, further revolutionized local art. Two of Caravaggio's most notable works, // [|The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist] // and // [|Saint Jerome Writing] //, are on display in the [|Oratory] of the Conventual Church of St. John. His legacy is evident in the works of local artists Giulio Cassarino (1582–1637) and Stefano Erardi (1630–1716). However, the [|Baroque] movement that followed was destined to have the most enduring impact on Maltese art and architecture. The glorious vault paintings of the celebrated Calabrese artist, [|Mattia Preti] transformed the severe, Mannerist interior of the Conventual Church St. John into a Baroque masterpiece. Preti spent the last 40 years of his life in Malta, where he created many of his finest works, now on display in the Museum of Fine Arts in [|Valletta]. During this period, local sculptor [|Melchior Gafà] (1639–1667) emerged as one of the top Baroque sculptors of the Roman School. <span style="background-color: #f9f9f9; color: #0645ad; display: block; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"> //The Siege of Malta – Flight of the Turks//, by Matteo Perez d'Aleccio During the 17th and 18th century, [|Neapolitan] and [|Rococo] influences emerged in the works of the Italian painters [|Luca Giordano] (1632–1705) and [|Francesco Solimena] (1657–1747), and these developments can be seen in the work of their Maltese contemporaries such as Giovanni Nicola Buhagiar (1698–1752) and Francesco Zahra (1710–1773). The Rococo movement was greatly enhanced by the relocation to Malta of Antoine de Favray (1706–1798), who assumed the position of court painter to Grand Master Pinto in 1744. > [|Neo-classicism] made some inroads among local Maltese artists in the late 18th century, but this trend was reversed in the early 19th century, as the local Church authorities – perhaps in an effort to strengthen Catholic resolve against the perceived threat of Protestantism during the early days of British rule in Malta – favoured and avidly promoted the religious themes embraced by the [|Nazarene movement] of artists. [|Romanticism], tempered by the naturalism introduced to Malta by [|Giuseppe Calì] , informed the "salon" artists of the early 20th century, including Edward and Robert Caruana Dingli. > Parliament established the National School of Art in the 1920s. During the reconstruction period that followed the Second World War, the emergence of the "Modern Art Group", whose members included Josef Kalleya (1898–1998), George Preca (1909–1984), Anton Inglott (1915–1945), Emvin Cremona (1919–1986), Frank Portelli (b.1922), Antoine Camilleri (b.1922) and Esprit Barthet (b.1919) greatly enhanced the local art scene.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 26px;">__CULTURE__ The culture of Malta reflects the various cultures that have come into contact with the Maltese Islands throughout the centuries, including neighbouring Mediterranean cultures, and the cultures of the nations that ruled Malta for long periods of time prior to its [|independence] in 1964.


 * __ PHOTOS OF MALTA __