Malta is a southern European country in the Mediterranean Sea.
It lies 80 km (50 mi) south of Sicily, 284 km (176 mi) east of Tunisia and 333 km (207 mi) north of Libya.
The country covers just over 316 km2 (122 sq mi), making it one of the world's smallest and most densely populated countries.
The capital of Malta is Valletta, which is also the smallest capital in the EU at 0.8 km2.
Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English.Malta's location as a naval base has given it great strategic importance throughout history, and a succession of powers including the Phoenicians, Romans, Moorish, Normans, Aragonese, Habsburg Spain, Knights of St. John, French and the British ruled the islands.
Malta gains independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and becomes a republic in 1974.
Malta has a long Christian legacy and is an Apostolic see.
According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul was shipwrecked on Malta.
Catholicism is the official religion in Malta.
Malta is a favored tourist destination with its warm climate, numerous recreational areas, architectural and historical monuments, including nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, Valletta and seven Megalithic Temples which are some of the oldest freestanding structures in the world.
