Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Valetta, Malta November 18, 2008

The entire island of Malta was awarded the Victoria Cross due to the constant German bombardment in WWII.  Truly a beautiful Place

Malta , officially the Republic of Malta is a small and densely populated European microstate, comprising an archipelago of seven islands, making it an island nation.
Throughout much of its history, Malta has been considered a crucial strategic location due in large part to its position in the Mediterranean Sea. It was held by several ancient cultures including Sicilians, Romans, Phoenicians, Byzantines and others. The island is commonly associated with the Knights Hospitaller who ruled it. This, along with the historic Biblical shipwreck of St. Paul on the island, ingrained the strong Roman Catholic legacy which is still the official and most practiced religion in Malta today.
The country's official languages are Maltese and English, although there are strong historical ties to the Italian language on the islands. Malta gained independence from Britain in 1964 and is currently a member of the European Union which it joined in 2004, in addition to being part of the Commonwealth of Nations and the UN.

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