Malta is a small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, made up of three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The total area of the archipelago is just 316 km², yet within this tiny space you’ll find an extraordinary concentration of monuments, landscapes, and traces of ancient civilizations.
The Character of the Islands
Malta and Gozo are famous for:
- rocky coastlines and high cliffs,
- natural bays and limestone formations,
- an exceptionally large population of free-roaming cats that are a permanent part of city and village life.
A convenient way to explore the main attractions is by using hop-on hop-off buses, which operate on both islands and stop at the key tourist sites.
Valletta – A Capital of Contrasts
Valletta, the smallest capital city in the European Union, is compact and rich in historic architecture. Here you’ll find:
- fortifications of the Knights of Malta,
- baroque churches and palaces,
- scenic harbor viewpoints.
At the same time, parts of the city function as a lively entertainment district, with numerous clubs and venues open late into the night.
Azure Window – A Symbol That No Longer Exists
One of Gozo’s most iconic landmarks was the natural limestone arch known as the Azure Window, which collapsed into the sea in 2017. Today, the site remains popular with divers and underwater photography enthusiasts.
Megalithic Temples – Older Than the Pyramids
Malta’s greatest mystery lies in its megalithic temples, dated to around 3600 BCE – older than the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge.
So far, 23 such structures have been discovered on Malta and Gozo, including:
- Ħaġar Qim
- Mnajdra
- Tarxien
- Ġgantija on Gozo
They were built from massive limestone blocks, some weighing over 50 tons. What makes this especially intriguing is that their builders did not yet know the wheel or metal tools.
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
The most extraordinary monument is the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum – an underground complex carved into rock to a depth of up to 14 meters. Around 2,000 tons of stone were removed to create it. Inside you’ll find:
- spiral ornaments,
- chambers with remarkable acoustics,
- rooms linked to astronomical cycles.
To this day, it is unclear exactly how this structure was created or what its full purpose was – ritual, funerary, or initiatory.
Cats – Malta’s Unofficial Symbol
In the urban spaces of Malta and Gozo you can encounter hundreds of free-roaming cats. Locals feed them, and in many places small cat colonies have become a local attraction and a distinctive feature of the islands’ landscape.
Summary
Malta and Gozo are places where, within a very small area, you encounter:
- prehistory older than the known civilizations,
- baroque cities of the Knights of Malta,
- natural rock formations and Mediterranean scenery,
- a vibrant contemporary island culture.
It’s an archipelago that still holds more questions than answers – and that is exactly why it remains one of the most fascinating regions of Europe.
Malvina Dunder 
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