Local information
History
Malta boasts two celebrity visitors from its ancient days: firstly Odysseus, who according to legend stayed on Gozo on his way back from Trojan wars, and secondly St Paul the apostle, who was shipwrecked here in 60AD and proceeded to convert the islanders to Christianity.
The island enjoyed several hundred years of peaceful isolation until it was invaded by Arabs in 870AD. These invaders had a strong influence on the language and culture, staying until Norman invaders from Sicily arrived in 1090AD.
In 1530 the Emperor of Spain gave the island to the Knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, a group of displaced European aristocrats formed during the Crusades, who set about improving the island's fortifications. These were fortuitously completed just in time to fend of an invasion of Turks in 1565.
More turmoil was to come in the shape of Napoleon in 1798. The British eventually saw off the French and established Malta as a British colony in 1814. However, this threw up its own set of problems and Malta became a priority target for the Axis powers during the Second World War.
Soon after the war, Malta started to move towards independence, achieving full autonomy by 1964 and becoming a republic in 1974.
Climate
Malta's climate is typical of the Mediterranean, with an average of over 12 hours sunshine in summer and 5 to 6 in winter.
Summers are hot, dry and very sunny. Day-time temperatures are often mitigated by cooling sea breezes, but in spring and autumn a very hot wind from Africa, known as the Sirocco, occasionally brings unseasonably high temperatures and humidity.
Winters are mild, with the occasional short chilly period brought about by the north and north-easterly winds from central Europe.
Annual rainfall is low, averaging 578mm a year, and the length of the dry season is longer than in neighbouring Italy. Swimming is quite possible well into the winter months, and the peak beach season can last until mid to late October.
Currency
The Maltese Pound (Lm) or Lira is divided into 100 cents.
Banks are normally open between 08.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and up to 11.30 a.m. on Saturday.
Exchange Bureaux at Malta International Airport are open 24 hours a day. Banks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and exchange bureaux can be found all over the islands. Many hotels and larger shops and restaurants can exchange currency, but exchange rates are generally inferior to those available at banks.
Most hotels and restaurants, as well as many shops, accept American Express, MasterCard and Visa.
Shopping hours
Shops are normally open between 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. and between 4.00 p.m. and 7 p.m. In tourist areas, many shops remain open till 10.00 p.m. Shops are normally closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.