Malta – A Quick Travel Guide
The first thing most tourists notice about Malta is the relics of the country’s rich history that are still found in the streets. There are numerous historical and cultural sites that tourists can visit in Malta and almost all of them are easily accessible. There are many prehistoric temples in Malta that are said to have been built a millennium before the Egyptians built the pyramids. The hypogeum is an underground structure that was used as catacombs back in 3600 BC. There are also the Tarxien temples; the oldest temple dates to having been built in 3100 BC. There are many more ancient sites in Malta, make sure you visit at least one or you won’t be able to say your holiday is complete.
The Republic of Malta is located in southern Europe, in the Mediterranean Sea and is made up of seven islands, making it an archipelago. This island nation enjoys a warm climate; the winters are not that cold compared to other countries in Europe and the summers are hot. If you plan to visit Malta during the summer, make sure you are prepared for hot, dry breezes and don’t expect any rain during the season. There are times when the sirocco can make Malta feel like an oven and the temperature can rise as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The languages spoken in Malta are Maltese and English. With English being their second language, tourists will have no trouble asking for directions if they find themselves lost on the streets of Malta. The Maltese archipelago was once a colony of Great Britain, which explains why the nation’s second official language is English. This is also why many English students travel to Malta and many international corporations hold summits, conferences and other important business meetings in this Mediterranean archipelago.
The national currency previously used in Malta was the Maltese lira. However, when the world entered the year 2008, the euro became the main currency of the country. As of February 2008, hotels, shops and other establishments will no longer accept Maltese lira. Before you hit the streets of Malta, make sure you change your pocket money into euros or you’ll have trouble doing any kind of business transaction during your stay.
According to World Factbook, about 98 percent of the population of Malta is Roman Catholic, one of the highest Catholic populations in the world. For this reason, expect to see numerous churches and cathedrals scattered throughout the archipelago. There is the Church of San Lawrenz in Birgu, the Cathedral of Gozo, the Rotunda of Santa Marija Assunta, also known as the Dome of Mosta and many others that you may want to visit during your stay in Malta.
The main means of transport in Malta is the bus. It is also possible to rent a car, but using public transport vehicles is not a bad thing, since almost all places in Malta can be reached by bus. Since Malta is an archipelago, ferries are also used to get around, especially during the summer. If you plan to rent a car, remember that you will be driving by British standards, which means you drive on the left and the steering wheel is placed on the right hand side of the car.