Portal:Malta
TheMaltaPortal
Malta,officially known as theRepublic of Malta,is a smallisland nationcomprising anarchipelagoofseven islands(Malta, Gozo (Għawdex) Comino (Kemmuna) Filfla, Cominotto (Kemmunett) Manoel, Selmunett (St.Paul's Islands)) in theMediterranean Sea.A country ofSouthern Europe,Malta lies south ofSicily,east ofTunisia,and north ofLibya.The country's official languages areMalteseandEnglish.Roman Catholicismis the most practised religion. The islands constituting the Maltese nation have been ruled by various powers and fought over by many states for centuries. Malta has been a member state of theEuropean Union(EU) since2004and it is currently the smallest EU country both in population and in area.
Selected Article
TheGeorge Crosswas awarded to the island ofMaltaby King George VI in a letter dated 15 April 1942 to the island's Governor Lieutenant-General SirWilliam Dobbie,so as to "bear witness to the heroism and devotion of its people" during thegreat siegeit underwent in the early parts ofWorld War Two.The George Cross is woven into theFlag of Maltaand can be seen wherever the flag is flown. While Italian and German bombers brought havoc to the Maltese islands, the problem of supplies was soon felt. An invasion threat in July 1941 ended in complete failure when coast defenders spotted E-boats of theItalianDecima Flottiglia10th FleetMAS.Whilst people suffered hunger, a final assault to neutralise the island was ordered by the GermanField Marshal Albert Kesselring.(more...) Selected Locality St Julian's(Maltese -San Ġiljan) is a town inMaltasituated along the coast, north of the country's capital,Valletta.It is known fortourism-oriented businesses, such ashotels,restaurantsandnightclubs,centred mostly in an area known asPaceville.The town is subdivided into informal districts which arePaceville,Ta' Ġiorni,Tal-Għoqod,St. Andrew's,as well as the regions surrounding St. George's Bay, Spinola Bay, Balluta Bay, and Il-Qaliet cliffs. St. Julian's is a popular town, usually flowing with tourists, especially during the summer months. It is also a well-sought after destination by the Maltese. The population of St. Julian's is 7,667 people. (more...) Selected Picture Photo credit:Jean-Christophe Benoist
TheRotunda of St Marija Assuntais in Mosta, Malta and was designed byGeorge Grongnet.Its dome is among the largest in the world, with a diameter of 37 meters (122ft). Grongnet's plans were closely based on thePantheon in Rome.The building started in May 1833 and was not finished until the 1930s. The original church was left in place while the Rotunda was built around it allowing the local people to still have a place of worship while the new church was built. On April 9, 1942, during an afternoon air-raid, a 200kgLuftwaffebomb pierced the dome (two others bounced off) and fell among the congregation of more than 300 people, awaiting early evening mass. It did not explode. Its replica is now on display inside the Rotunda. Did you know
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