The Maltese Islands have often been referred to as the island of sunshine and history and with good reason. With a history boasting 6,000 years of civilisation, every square inch of its land, its temples and monuments bear witness to these past civilisations. For those of you with an appetite for culture, Malta and Gozo are strewn with fascinating historical and archaeological sites, some of which date back earlier than the Pyramids!

Museum lovers will find a variety of treasures to discover. Each museum houses fabulous artefacts from various fields and eras be it art, archaeology, natural history, war time, the temples or our celebrated maritime history. And more treasures can be found in one of the 364 churches built on the island!

For those interested in old fortifications built at the time of the Knights of St. John, military and historical parades are regularly staged to allow visitors to be swept back in time and if you really wish to fully understand Malta's history, then visit one of the multi-vision shows which encapsulate Maltese history from its very beginnings to modern day.

No visitor has ever been to Malta and left without visiting her sister islands, Gozo and Comino. Gozo, aptly termed as the island where time stands still because of the tranquillity it exudes, is greener than Malta and more rural allowing for sweeping views of terraced fields, glimmering shorelines, and imposing churches. Comino, a mile long and uninhabited, is a veritable paradise with a lagoon bluer than turquoise.

Valletta, the Fortress City, "a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen", has many titles, all recalling its rich historical past. It is the "modern" city built by the Knights of St John; a masterpiece of the baroque; a European Art City; and a World Heritage City. But these are just some of its faces and fortunes.

Valletta is also Malta's capital city: a living, working city, the administrative and commercial heart of the Islands. Nowhere in Malta is the life of the Islands reflected more than here. The city is busy by day, yet retains a timeless atmosphere. The grid of narrow streets house some of Europe's finest art works, churches and palaces and one of the oldest theatres in Europe, the Manoel Theatre.

Valletta hosts a vast cultural programme. Street events are staged against the city's magnificent baroque architecture and floodlit bastions. There is theatre and music and all manner of things to see and join in, from avant garde art to traditional church festas. The city is a delight to shop in: narrow side streets are full of tiny shops selling antiques, maps, books, prints and jewellery.

Walking around Valletta, you'll come across an intriguing historical site around every corner: votive statues, niches, fountains and coats of arms high up on parapets. And when you need to stop and take it all in, the city yields up squares, courtyards, gardens and any number of cafés, right on cue.

Diving is a very popular sport in Malta and for those of you who are passionate about this sport, Malta offers many attractions and spectacular diving sites. Contact Subway Diving School for any queries about diving in Malta.

And for those who wish to take it easier, simply stroll around our charming towns and villages and enjoy the uniqueness and tranquillity that is so very typical of the Islands.