5 CURIOSITIES ABOUT MALTA
5 curiosities about Malta: 14 kilometers wide, 27 kilometers long and an infinite number of things to discover, here are the first 5.
Malta holds secrets and wonders of the past, but also singular customs and incredible traditions.
Visiting it means discovering a different world, even if it has always been linked to Italian history and culture. Here are 5 exceptional curiosities about this fantastic country.
1. It is not an island
Although it is often called an island, Malta is an archipelago. It is made up of over 15 islands, of which only two are inhabited.
The first is Malta, which gives its name to the State and the second is Gozo.
Among the others that are part of this small and wonderful nation we remember the islands of St. Paul, Comino and Filfla.
The latter has been transformed into a nature reserve.
2. A very small capital
Valletta, the capital of the State of Malta, has an extension of less than one kilometer and is the smallest capital in Europe.
3. The original capital was Arab
The capital of the State of Malta is Valletta, which assumed this role in 1571 when the seat of the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller was transferred from Fort St. Angelo (in the city of Vittoriosa) to the Grand Master’s Palace at the behest of Pietro del Monte, successor of Jean de la Valette.
Previously, the capital of Malta was Mdina, chosen because of its strategic position: being at the highest point of the island allows the entire territory to be kept under control and any incoming ships to be spotted.
Mdina was built during the Arab domination and appeared as a fortified city, with high walls.
In Arabic, in fact, the word medinah means “walled city”.
4. Malta has a sweet name
The word Malta has Greek origins. It comes from Μελίτη (Melitē), which means “sweet” and was chosen as the name for the island due to the strong presence of bees, which at the time of the foundation of the city inhabited many areas of the archipelago, producing a delicious honey.
Although today the presence of native bees has reduced, the tradition of honey has remained in these lands, particularly on the island of Gozo.
5. A tower every 200 meters
In ancient times, the entire island of Malta was fortified with walls and towers, the latter in particular were scattered throughout the entire perimeter in order to guarantee maximum protection of the territory and the population.
It is estimated that there was a tower every 200 meters, although unfortunately most of these structures were destroyed.
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(Source: lastrolabio.it)
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