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Malta Tours
About
Malta
Malta,
Gozo and Comino lie at the heart of the Mediterranean, blessed with
near year-round sun,
crystal clear sea, stunning scenery and a rich history that has seen
many of the glorious civilisations stamp their identity on these
small islands.
Malta is holidaying as the mood takes
you,
you will be amazed as to
what these small beautiful islands have to offer.
In just 48 hours and a kilometer or
two, you can try a new sport, laze on an island cruise, tour the
most important historic sites, visit picturesque villages and still
have time to join in the nightlife. That’s the real advantage of a
stay here.
Through the
Years
As a stepping-stone in the long history of man on earth, the
Maltese Islands went through a golden Neolithic period, the remains
of which are the mysterious megalithic temples. Later on, the
Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Carthaginians and the Romans all left
their traces on the Islands before yielding them to the Arabs and
then the Normans.
But it was the Knights
of St. John who, in restoring the links with Christianity, a faith
first brought to the Islands by St. Paul, took Malta through a new
golden age by making it a key player in the cultural arena of 17th
and 18th century Europe.
Key Dates
5000BC:
First known inhabitants come from Sicily
4000 - 3000BC: The megalithic temples are built
700 -
218BC: Phoenician and Carthaginian periods
218BC: Malta forms part of the Roman Republic
60AD: St. Paul is shipwrecked on the island and preaches
Christianity
395 - 870: Byzantine rule
870: The Arab invasion
1090 - 1530: Norman, Swabian, Angevin and Aragonese rule
1530: Charles V cedes the island of Malta to the Order of Jerusalem
1565: The Great Seige: The Knights of St. John defeat The Ottoman
Turks
1566 - 1571: The building of Valletta, the new capital
17th Century: Malta under the Order of St. John prosper
1798: Napoleon Bonaparte stops here on his way to Egypt and the
Order capitulates
1800: The British come to Malta's aid to defeat the French
1800 - 1964: Malta becomes a British colony. 164 years of British
rule
1940 - 1942: Malta plays a key role in World War II and is
constantly attacked
1947: Self-government restored, administration back in the hands of
Govenor General
1964: Malta gains independence
1974: Malta becomes a Republic. The first Maltese President takes
office
2004: Malta becomes a full member state of the European Union
2008: Malta adopts the EURO currency
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