The Maltese islands are strategically positioned at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. The strategic position lies in the fact that the islands lie in the crossroad between Europe and North Africa. This strategic position made Malta a valuable possession for the illustrious powers that dominated Europe in ancient times. Throughout the years, and having been governed by numerous rulers, including the Phoenicians, the Aragonese, the Romans, the Arabs, the Knights, the French and the British, Malta is today is a rich and varied country.

Malta gained its independence in 1964 and joined the European Union in May 2004. The currency used is the Euro. The national language is Maltese, a language of Semitic origin with a romantic influence. However Malta has two official languages, Maltese and English as the majority of the population can speak fluent English. Italian, French and German are spoken languages, albeit to a lesser extent.

Malta resides 80 kilometres south of Italy and 290 kilometres from the nearest point on the African coast. The area of the Maltese islands totals 316 square kilometres with slightly more than 450,000 inhabitants. The largest island is Malta and this is also the most industrial and commercial. Gozo is the secondary island and although close to Malta, it preserved its own distinct character. Malta’s capital city is Valletta. Other major commercial and entertainment villages include Sliema and St Julians.