History UsefulNotes / Malta

Music/{{XTC}}'s Andy Partridge was born in Malta, although he and the band are more commonly associated with Swindon. However, perhaps the most famous ethnic Maltese people in the world are second-generation members of the Maltese diaspora: Aussie comedian Creator/ShaunMicallef and American politician Peter "Secretary Mayor Pete" Pete Buttigieg.

During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Malta was a British possession (following wars with UsefulNotes/{{France}} a century earlier) and a very useful air and naval base just off the enemy (Italian) coast. The Italian and German air forces made determined attempts to do something about this, but were held off by a bare minimum of British fighters. The people of Malta were considered to have conducted themselves so bravely during the bombardment that the ''entire nation'' was collectively awarded the George Cross (The UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom's highest civilian award for bravery). Britain later considered integrating the island into the UK, but in the end it became an independent republic.

Music/{{XTC}}'s Andy Partridge was born in Malta, although he and the band are more commonly associated with Swindon.

''Film/{{Popeye}}'' was filmed here; the main set that portrayed [[NotSoSafeHarbor the town of Sweethaven]] still exists [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeye_Village as "Popeye Village", a museum and entertainment complex.]] ''Film/FinalJustice'' was also filmed and set here. An episode of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' was supposedly set here, but bizarrely and insultingly depicted the country as an isolated developing-world rogue state whose government was in the pocket of a millionaire DiabolicalMastermind. Creator/MichaelBay's ''Film/ThirteenHoursTheSecretSoldiersOfBenghazi'' was also filmed here [[CaliforniaDoubling as a stand-in for Benghazi, Libya]] due to the area having a lot of Northern Africa-style architecture and also being a lot safer than UsefulNotes/{{Libya}} itself. Valletta also served as stand-in for late 15th century Spanish cities Granada and Séville in ''[[Film/AssassinsCreed2016 Assassin's Creed]]''.

''Film/{{Popeye}}'' was filmed here; the main set that portrayed [[NotSoSafeHarbor the town of Sweethaven]] still exists [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeye_Village as "Popeye Village", a museum and entertainment complex.]] ''Film/FinalJustice'' was also filmed and set here. An episode of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' was supposedly set here, but bizarrely and insultingly depicted the country as an isolated developing-world rogue state whose government was in the pocket of a millionaire DiabolicalMastermind. Creator/MichaelBay's ''Film/ThirteenHoursTheSecretSoldiersOfBenghazi'' was also filmed here [[CaliforniaDoubling as a stand-in for Benghazi, Libya]] due to the area having a lot of Northern Africa-style architecture and also being a lot safer than Libya itself. Valletta also served as stand-in for late 15th century Spanish cities Granada and Séville in ''[[Film/AssassinsCreed2016 Assassin's Creed]]''.

Historically, Malta is known for its pre-historic temples and the ancient worship of the 'Fat Lady'. Over the ages the island exchanged hands, being ruled by Romans, Arabs, Knights of St. John, French, British and finally in modern times, the locals. Under the Knights the island held its ground against a massive armada of the Ottoman Empire, and made quite a show during the Great Siege of Malta.

The Maltese language sounds very odd to English-speakers, being an Afro-Asiatic language of the Semitic subfamily (like Hebrew and Arabic) rather than an Indo-European one and something of a cross between Arabic and Italian. It is thought that it is descended from the form of Arabic spoken by Arab traders in Sicily during the MiddleAges. Its closest relative is UsefulNotes/{{Tunisia}}n Arabic; a Tunisian who knows Italian or an Italian who speaks Tunisian Arabic should be able to get by.

The Maltese language sounds very odd to English-speakers, being an Afro-Asiatic language of the Semitic subfamily (like Hebrew and Arabic) rather than an Indo-European one and something of a cross between Arabic and Italian. It is thought that it is descended from the form of Arabic spoken by Arab traders in Sicily during the Middle Ages. Its closest relative is UsefulNotes/{{Tunisia}}n Arabic; a Tunisian who knows Italian or an Italian who speaks Tunisian Arabic should be able to get by.

During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Malta was a British possession (following wars with UsefulNotes/{{France}} a century earlier) and a very useful air and naval base just off the enemy (Italian) coast. The Italian and German air forces made determined attempts to do something about this, but were held off by a bare minimum of British fighters. The people of Malta were considered to have conducted themselves so bravely during the bombardment that the ''entire nation'' was collectively awarded the George Cross (Britain's highest civilian award for bravery). Britain later considered integrating the island into the UK, but in the end it became an independent republic.

During UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Malta was a British possession (following wars with France a century earlier) and a very useful air and naval base just off the enemy (Italian) coast. The Italian and German air forces made determined attempts to do something about this, but were held off by a bare minimum of British fighters. The people of Malta were considered to have conducted themselves so bravely during the bombardment that the ''entire nation'' was collectively awarded the George Cross (Britain's highest civilian award for bravery). Britain later considered integrating the island into the UK, but in the end it became an independent republic.

The Republic of Malta ('''Maltese:''' ''Repubblika ta' Malta''), is a small Southern European island nation, located about 60 miles off the coast of Italy and consisting of the inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino and a number of uninhabited islands. Malta has historically been of enormous strategic significance. [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsHospitallers The Knights of St. John]] were resettled here after their original base of Rhodes was over-run by the Ottoman Turks.

The Maltese language sounds very odd to English-speakers, being an Afro-Asiatic language like Berber, Hebrew and Arabic rather than an Indo-European one and something of a cross between Arabic and Italian. It is thought that it is descended from the form of Arabic spoken by Arab traders in Sicily during the Middle Ages. Its closest relative is UsefulNotes/{{Tunisia}}n Arabic; a Tunisian who knows Italian or an Italian who speaks Tunisian Arabic should be able to get by.

Public Transport

Filth Dispensers / Old Bars

Wardens

Doorstep Geriatrics

Carriage Drivers

Malta, known as the Republic of Malta ('''Maltese:''' ''Repubblika ta' Malta''), is a small Southern European island nation, located about 60 miles off the coast of Italy and consisting of the inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino and a number of uninhabited islands. Malta has historically been of enormous strategic significance. [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsHospitallers The Knights of St. John]] were resettled here after their original base of Rhodes was over-run by the Ottoman Turks.

''Film/{{Popeye}}'' was filmed here; the main set that portrayed [[NotSoSafeHarbor the town of Sweethaven]] still exists [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popeye_Village as "Popeye Village", a museum and entertainment complex.]] ''Film/FinalJustice'' was also filmed and set here. An episode of ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' was supposedly set here, but bizarrely and insultingly depicted the country as an isolated developing-world rogue state whose government was in the pocket of a millionaire DiabolicalMastermind. Creator/MichaelBay's ''Film/ThirteenHoursTheSecretSoldiersOfBenghazi'' was also filmed here [[CaliforniaDoubling as a stand-in for Benghazi, Libya]] due to the area having a lot of Northern Africa-style architecture and also being a lot safer than Libya itself.

* '''Highest point:''' Ta'Dmejrek (253 m/830 ft) (198th)

* '''Highest point:''' Ta'Dmejrek (253 m/830 ft) (183rd)

* '''Highest point:''' Ta'Dmejrek (253 m/830 ft) (183th)

* '''Country calling code:''' 356

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' MT

Malta, known as the Republic of Malta ('''Maltese:''' ''Repubblika ta' Malta''), is a small Southern European island nation and the southernmost country in Europe, located about 60 miles off the coast of Italy and consisting of the inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino and a number of uninhabited islands. Malta has historically been of enormous strategic significance. [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsHospitallers The Knights of St. John]] were resettled here after their original base of Rhodes was over-run by the Ottoman Turks.

* '''Area:''' 316 km (122 sq mi) (185th)