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Sparkling sunshine, crystal clear waters and a unique history waiting to be discovered - this is Malta! A treasure island where history unfolds over a span of 7,000 years. With prehistoric temples older than the pyramids themselves as well as no less than three World Heritage Sites, including its capital city Valletta, the Maltese Islands have been described as one big open-air museum. Around every corner you will find some intriguing cultural and historical sight.
Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Sea - halfway between Europe and Africa, it has played host to visitors from the ancient worlds, including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and the Romans. It was also the home of the Greek Goddess Calypso.
Malta is a European island retreat exotically spiced with a Moorish flavor. It's a Mediterranean island of just 350,000 people that has a lot to offer, not least of which is a warm climate.
Living costs are low, there are juicy tax concessions, and almost everybody speaks English. You won't find many places where it's so easy to integrate into local society.
The island's most famous visitor was St. Paul the Apostle, who was shipwrecked here in A.D. 60 - The Maltese commemorate the event with a colorful festival every February. Just as St. Patrick is said to have banished the snakes from Ireland, St. Paul is credited with banishing vipers from the archipelago of Malta. Myths come thick and fast, and one legend has it that the goddess-nymph Calypso seduced Ulysses on Malta.
Malta's biggest asset is its climate, and most visitors don't complain about getting few chances to unfurl an umbrella. Although summer's 32 C (89 F) temperatures bake the interior landscape to a golden crisp, the coast is tempered by cooling breezes. The winter sun beams down for over six hours a day, and it's then that gardens and meadows are at their showy best. Even in late October, sea temperatures remain above 20 C (68 F) and the crystal-clear waters are ideal for snorkeling and diving.
Crime is virtually unknown here, and the only real moan for non-UK visitors is that Maltese motorists drive on the left. Not that you need to drive - there's an excellent bus service, and most destinations are less than 50 minutes away.
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