Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world, yet few places carry such a deep layering of history and culture. Every Mediterranean conqueror left its mark on these islands — from prehistoric farmers to the Knights, from the Arabs to the British. The flower of that heritage still lives today in the language, the religion and the everyday traditions of the Maltese.
The Megalithic Temples — The Oldest in the World
Malta's megalithic temples are the oldest free-standing stone structures still standing anywhere — built before the pyramids of Egypt and before Stonehenge. Sites such as Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and the Ġgantija temples on Gozo are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The enormous stone blocks, some weighing several tonnes, were raised by a civilisation we still know little about. Underground, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a subterranean temple carved into the rock, unique in the world.
The Knights of St John
In 1530 Emperor Charles V granted the islands to the Order of St John — the Knights Hospitaller. In 1565 they withstood the Great Siege by the Ottoman Empire, one of the great battles of European history. After the victory, Grand Master Jean de Valette built a new fortified city — Valletta — which is today entirely a World Heritage city. The Knights left behind palaces, cathedrals and fortifications that still define the Maltese landscape.
The Maltese Language — Unique in Europe
Maltese is the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, and the only Semitic language that is official in the European Union. Its roots lie in Siculo-Arabic, but it has absorbed thousands of words from Italian, Sicilian and English. The Maltese are bilingual: they speak Maltese and English every day, and many also understand Italian. This linguistic blend makes Maltese a living witness to the island's history.
Catholicism and the Village Feasts
Malta is deeply Catholic, and faith is most visibly expressed in the village feasts (festi). Each village celebrates its patron saint with a week of festivities: the church is adorned with gold and damask, the saint's statue is carried in procession through the streets, and the band clubs play until midnight. The two band clubs in each village often share a fierce rivalry that gives the feasts their energy. The climax is always the display of ground fireworks (ġigġifogu) — the Maltese are among the finest pyrotechnicians in the world.
Malta's Courage and the Cross
During the Second World War, Malta endured some of the heaviest bombing in history. In 1942 King George VI awarded the entire island the George Cross for the bravery of its people — a medal that today appears on the Maltese flag. The eight-pointed Maltese Cross, a legacy of the Knights of St John, has become a national symbol seen everywhere: on coins, in jewellery and on flags. Each point represents one of the virtues the Knights were meant to embody. Together these symbols bind the island's long history into a single identity of defiance and survival.
Hospitality and Life in the Square
At the heart of Maltese culture lies hospitality. The church square is the centre of social life in every village — a place where people gather after Mass, drink coffee at the band club and talk into the evening. Family and community remain at the core of everything, and Sunday is still a sacred day of the long meal with the whole family. This sense of belonging, kept alive by the feasts and traditions, is perhaps the island's most precious heritage.
The Luzzu and the Sea
The luzzu is the traditional Maltese fishing boat, painted in bright reds, yellows and blues. On the prow is painted the Eye of Osiris (or Horus), a symbol dating back to Phoenician times, believed to protect fishermen from the dangers of the sea. In Marsaxlokk, hundreds of luzzu fill the harbour and make up one of Malta's most iconic scenes.
The Gallariji — Wooden Balconies
The gallariji — enclosed wooden balconies projecting from building façades — are a distinctive architectural feature of Malta, especially in Valletta and Birgu. Painted green, red or yellow, they give the towns a character all their own.
Crafts and Folk Music
Malta's handicraft traditions are ancient and alive. Lace and silver filigree are precious arts, above all on Gozo, where women still weave lace by hand. In music, għana is the traditional folk song — a sung poetic improvisation, often taking the form of a vocal duel between two singers. These traditions, together with the feasts and the food, keep Maltese identity alive in the modern world.