Malta is a small, densely populated archipelago in the central Mediterranean consisting of several islands. Its capital and largest city is Valletta, and the country has two official languages - Maltese and English. Throughout its history, Malta has been ruled by various powers due to its strategic location, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Sicilians, French, and British, gaining independence from the UK in 1964 and becoming a republic in 1974.

1. MALTA GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY The Republic of Malta is a Southern European country and consists of an archipelago situated centrally in the Mediterranean , 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km east of Tunisia . Malta covers just over 300 km² in land area, making it one of the world's smallest and most densely populated countries. Its capital is Valletta and the largest town is Birkirkara . The main island is made up of many small towns. The country has two official languages – Maltese and English – with Maltese being considered the national language. Throughout history, Malta's location has given it great strategic importance and a sequence of powers including the Phoenicians , Greeks , Romans , Sicilians , French and the British ruled the islands. Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a republic in 1974.

3. MAIN SIGHTS (1): THE WALLS IN VALETTA

4. MAIN SIGHTS (2): THE COAST