Featured Hotels In and around Gozo Island.Gozo one of the most untouched and unique islands in the Mediterranean.
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Do you have a property to rent out in Malta? |
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Featured Hotels In and around Gozo Island
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Featured Hotels In and around Gozo Island on Malta
Malta is both an outstanding summer vacation destination as well as a living microcosm of Mediterranean history. Few people realize or expect that on such a small cluster of islands one can come across such a wealth of historic traditions. Besides archeological and architectural gems Malta's great attraction are the numerous village "festas" falling mostly during summer. These festivities in honor of the village patron saint are characterized by band marches, colourful street decorations, spectacular firework displays and a religious procession where the statue of the patron saint is carried through the village streets. At the same time, Malta's many beaches are an obvious place to spend the time waiting for the celebrations to begin or to have a break from the rich historical tapestry of the islands.
Where on Earth is Malta? |
| By Frank L. Scicluna |
It's not unusual to get a sort of a puzzled expression on many faces when you mention the word Malta. You expect some people to say - "I've heard of Malta or I have met a Maltese but I don't exactly know where or what it is." If you ask them to have a guess, they might place Malta in Africa, or maybe in the Middle East.GEOGRAPHYIt's such a small place. It is just an archipelago of islands about halfway between the coasts of Sicily and North Africa. Set in the clear blue Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese islands are the most southerly European country. The archipelago consists of five islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino, together with two other uninhabited islands Cominetto and Filfla. The total area is approximately 316 sq kms (Malta 246 sq km, Gozo 67 sq km, Comino 2.7 sq km). The longest distance in Malta from North West to South East is about 27 km, with 14.5 kms width in an East - West direction. The Islands are only 90 km south of Sicily and 290 km from the northern coast of Africa.
HISTORY
The strategic position of Malta, Gozo and Comino has made these Mediterranean islands a crossroad of history and a bone of contention. The powers of Europe's past knew it well as a stepping-stone between Europe and North Africa. Involved in Malta's history are the Stone-Age and Bronze-Age people, Romans and Phoenicians, Arabs, Normans and Carthaginians, Castilians, French and British; from whom Malta became independent in 1964. Napoleon Bonaparte did unutterable damage in an only six-day occupation; and Malta stood firm against Hitler despite massive bombing during World War II, deservedly earning the nation the George Cross medal from King George VI (April 1942) and depicting it on the left hand corner of the flag.
THE KNIGHTS
The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, a religious and multinational order of soldiers and hospitallers, have had a significant influence in the history of Malta. You might recognise the Maltese Cross, which is the insignia of the Knights of Malta. And you've heard of the Maltese falcon—the Mediterranean peregrine falcon—which was the annual rent required by Roman Emperor Charles V when he donated the Island to the Knights in 1530.
The Knights were not altogether pleased with the gift of these little islands, which were no kind of natural paradise. The Knight found the land is rugged, dry and rocky, though these days barely in evidence in its natural form because Malta is one of the world's most densely populated countries in the world (population - 366 000). It takes no more than approximately an hour to drive between any two points on the main island and that is achieved without ever breaking out into wide-open spaces; the island is virtually solid with jumbles of buildings built of native white limestone.
The Knights of St John of Jerusalem, however, left the most physical mark on Malta, after successfully defended it from the power-hungry Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1565. The Knights were in charge of the island for 270 years, building magnificent churches and lavish monuments to themselves—each nationality had its own palace (AUBERGES) —before losing power to the Napoleon Bonaparte and the French empire in 1889.
MALTESE LANGUAGE
The two official languages are Maltese and English. The English language is a leftover of about 160 years of British colonisation of Malta. Maltese, whose closest languages are Lebanese, Hebrew and classic Arabic, is the only Semitic language which is written in Roman alphabet. Italian, too, is widely spoken among the younger generation, particularly due to the television programs which are transmitted from nearby Italy. It is easy to get a language guide and Maltese is interesting enough to make a little effort very worthwhile a few words taken back with you are a very beautiful 'souvenir' of your visit.
Tourism is the most lucrative industry, and the Maltese people have a friendly and welcoming way about them. At celebrations for the feast of St. Paul on the 10th of February, the locals proudly relate their immortal history to visitors as a procession with the statute of St Paul passes by.
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Featured Hotels In and around Gozo Island on Malta,
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Featured Hotels In and around Gozo Island on Malta ,
The town of Victoria embraces both the Citadel, the ancient city of the
Island, as well as Rabat, the old suburb of the Citadel. Rabat in
Arabic and Archaic Maltese stands for suburb and this name was first
documented as Rabbatum in a notorial deed drawn by Andrea de Beniamin on
22nd February 1455.
Its motto is A magna maxima (From great supreme). The coat-of-arms has
an azure background and portrays a shield with three hills and the
letters VR (which stand for Victoria Regina) on top of the shield. There
are many places of historical and cultural interest in Victoria and a
visit to the Citadel is considered a must. From these fortifications one
can enjoy a superb view of the whole Island. Also within the Citadel
there is the Gozo Cathedral and the Law Courts, as well as the Cathedral
Museum, the Gozo Museum of Archaeology, the Folklore Museum,theCitadel
Armoury,the Folklore Museum,the Old Prison, and the Natural Science
Museum.
The
centre of the capital city of Gozo is Pjazza Indipendenza, known as
it-Tokk. The square is dominated by the Banca Giuratale, built between
1733 and 1738, formerly the seat of the municipal government of Gozo and
presently of the Victoria Local Council. In the mornings, there is an
open market that shares the square with several open air cafes. The
magnificent St.George's Basilica is located in the centre of the old
town, just off the open air market in Pjazza Indipendenza. The cobweb of
narrow streets around St. George's Basilica are the oldest in town and
are worth a walkaround.
In Triq ir-Repubblika (Republic Street), Victoria's main street, there
are all kinds of shops, a couple of shopping arcades, pharmacies, banks,
the Police Headquarters, the Bishop's Chancery, as well as La Stella
and Leone Band Clubs who own the Astra and Aurora opera theatres
respectively. In lower Republic Street, one also finds Villa Rundle
Public Gardens which were laid out by the British in 1910. These
gardens, with a variety of local and imported trees and a fountain, are
an oasis of peace in the hustle and bustle of the busy town.
Close to the crossroads is Victoria's main parking area and the Bus
Terminus. Other smaller parking areas are in St George's Square, Savina
Square, St Francis Square and St Augustine Square. 
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