Culture & Heritage in Malta

If you are looking for a cultural, historical destination, Malta is the place for you. Malta has a long history, to be more precise, 7000 years of history. The Maltese history dates back to the golden Neolithic period that left us today mysterious megalithic temples dedicated to the goddess of fertility.So make sure to visit Malta holiday accommodation to experience the beauty and significance of historical places.

The huge number of archeological sites on the Maltese Islands sets its history apart from other Mediterranean destinations. There are megalithic monuments, Bronze Age dolmens, Punic tombs, remains of Roman Villas and traces of prehistoric man, which defy explanation, such as the mysterious ?cart? tracks. For three thousand years, from around 5200 B.C., the archipelago was home to a temple-building civilisation. Malta and Gozo?smegalithic temples are thought to be the oldest free-standing buildings known to man.

An interesting and unique site is the Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni, a labyrinth of underground chambers probably used as both a burial site and a temple. A good place to start your tour is at the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta or the Hypogeum itself.

It is said that in 60 A.D. St. Paul was shipwrecked on the island while on his way to Rome and brought Christianity to Malta. The Arabs conquered the islands in 870 A.D. and left an important aspect ? the Maltese language which is semitic in origin and definitely left by the Arabs.

Until 1530 Malta was an extension of Sicily however at that time Charles V gave Malta to the Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem who ruled over Malta from 1530 to 1798. The Knights took Malta through a new golden age making it an important player in the cultural arena of 17th and 18th century Europe. The art and culture in Malta were injected with the presence of artists such as Caravaggio, MattiaPreti and Favray (amongst many others) who were commissioned by the Knights to embellish churches, palaces and auberges.

In 1798 Bonaparte, took over Malta from the Knights. The English, who were requested by the Maltese to help them against the French, blockaded the islands in 1800. British rule in Malta lasted till 1964 when Malta became independent. The Maltese adapted the British system of administration, education and legislation. Malta became a Republic in 1974 and a member state of the European Union in May 2004.

This historical legacy, unique in the Mediterranean, is reflected in the country?s national architecture and collections. There are so many areas of heritage and culture to be explored ? the 16th century masterpiece Grandmasters? Palace, which is now the parliament, the ?Sacra Infermeria?, which is now a fully equipped conference centre, the St. James Centre for Creativity ? a superbly restored fortification where contemporary works of art are exhibited against the original rough-textured walls and rediscovered spaces. On the other hand, the National Museum of Fine Arts, housed in an exuberant Rococo building dating from the 1570?s, exhibits some magnificent art, ranging from the early Renaissance to modern times. Malta holiday packages have offer you the best for you and your family.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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Luigi T.   marketer Hello Paul I read everything you wrote about Malta I'm Italian but I live in Malta for 13 years and I am fine us the story of the Malta learned living here, I live at San Pawl Bay I know many places that the guidebooks do not see for lack of time but are much more beautiful in the usual places where guides take tourists Dec 20th 2010 10:43