The close proximity between Malta and Sicily is only one of the reasons why the trip to the tip of Italy is so popular. In fact it’s only sixty miles from Gozo to Pozzallo and with the state of the art catamarans operated by Virtu Ferries, the trip can be done in around 90 minutes for a knockdown price hovering between €30 and €40.
The similar cuisine to Malta also makes Sicily another popular tourist destination for the Maltese who will feel at home with the generous seafood dishes on offer.
In the summer months, travelling to Malta’s smaller and more rural sister island, Gozo, is a really popular trip for both tourists and residents. Some people go over just for the day, others to spend a few nights there either in a hotel, apartment or farmhouse.
Gozo is around a quarter of the size of Malta with picturesque villages scattered over hilltops across the island, and the land is greener and more fertile than that found in Malta. There are two popular seaside resorts – Marsalforn and Xlendi – where you can find a number of restaurants and hotels.
In 1565, during the rule of the Knights of Malta, Turkish Corsairs led by Turgut (or Dragut) Reis invaded Malta. At the time there was an ongoing battle for supremacy in the Mediterranean and the invasion of Malta was a culmination of the bloody fight between Christians and the Ottoman Empire. In 1522, The Knights were driven out of their base in Rhodes by the Turks, and relocated the Order to Malta. Once again, the Turkish forces decided to take on The Knights and therefore gain control of Malta which was strategically placed in the centre of the busy shipping lanes of the Mediterranean.
Malta International Airport (IATA code: MLA) is the only airport that currently serves Malta and its sister islands of Gozo and Comino, although up until recently, there was a Malta-Gozo helicopter service linking Malta International Airport (MIA) with the heliport in Xewkija, Gozo. This has, however been discontinued and the only other link with the other islands other than by road/ferry is a seaplane service from Grand Harbour, Valletta to Mgarr, Gozo.
This modern Malta airport is situated between Luqa and Gudja, 5 kms southwest of Malta’s capital city, Valletta, and the terminal was opened in 1992.
The Maltese flag is red and white with a vertical division; red in the fly and white at the hoist end, with the emblem of the George Cross in the top left-hand corner. Historically, the origins of this flag were found in the early Middle-Ages. It’s believed that this flag was given to Malta by Count Roger of Sicily in 1091. Count Roger’s official banner sported these colours, and so bequeathed the same colours on Malta.
In the early 16th Century, The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also more commonly known as The Knights of Malta, were ousted from their base in Rhodes and were seeking a new headquarters.