The Maltese Islands possess an astoundingly rich heritage, being home to ancient civilizations and the cream of European nobility in the early Medieval to the mid-Renaissance period. It was during this era that Malta's reputation as an island of great bravery and wondrous architectural features was to become firmly entrenched in the books of history.

The strategic location of the islands between the European and African continents made it an attractive conquest for Europe, North Africa and the East.  Malta's abundant legacy is clearly visible in the wealth of buildings accessible to visitors, as well as the preservation of its past in museums, not to mention ruins and old cities.

A Chequered History: Over the 7000 years that Malta's history spans, three epochs stand out in terms of playing a major role in shaping the present-day islands: the Arab Occupation, from 870 to 1090, which provided the basis of the Maltese language, the Order of St John, which occupied the islands from 1530 to 1798 and molded the islands artistically, socially and culturally, and the British period, from 1801 to 1964, which introduced the concept of British justice with a unified code of laws, democracy and administration. The latter helped launch the islands into the modern industrial world and linked them with the worldwide community of English-speaking countries, with the result that the islands present a kaleidoscope of past and present; a fascinating mélange of European culture and rural Mediterranean traditions.