| The Maltese Islands are situated in the Mediterranean | | | | respect the family and are crazy about children. |
| Sea, about 100 km from Sicily and 290 km from | | | | Nightlife in the capital amounts to no more than a |
| North Africa. They consist of Malta, Gozo and | | | | drink or two in a bar or an evening trot in a |
| Comino. They are one of the oldest civilisations in the | | | | horse-drawn karrozzin round the cities floodlit |
| Mediterranean dating back to circa 5000 years B.C. | | | | ramparts. However, there is plenty of action in |
| The population is around 350,000 and is | | | | resorts to the northwest. |
| homogeneous with its own identity and language. The | | | | Those seeking the bright lights should head to the |
| official languages are Maltese and English with most | | | | small area of St Julians known as Paceville. Here you |
| of the people also fluent in Italian. | | | | will find scores of discos, pubs and late night bars. In |
| Maltas topography is characterised by a series of low | | | | summer the neon it streets are crammed with action |
| hills and slopes towards the Northeast and low lying | | | | seekers. St Julians is also home to Maltas casino the |
| land to the Southeast. The Islands have a typically | | | | only place where the nightlife could be described as |
| temperate climate offering warm, dry summers and | | | | glitzy. Beyond the headland, St Georges Bay has a |
| mild winters. They enjoy some 300 days of sunshine | | | | growing number of fashionable discos. Lesser |
| and the average rainfall is about 590mm. | | | | concentrations of bars with live music, and the |
| Temperatures range between 14 in winter and 32 in | | | | occasional discos, can be found in Sliema and in the |
| summer. | | | | St Pauls area, around Buggiba and Qawra. |
| Valletta is the capital city and houses the seat of | | | | Discos open early in the evening for the benefit of |
| Government. Malta has a parliamentary democracy | | | | the young Maltese visiting from the countryside who |
| with executive power resting with the Prime Minister | | | | have to catch the last bus home at around 9 or 10 |
| and the Cabinet. Parliament is composed of 65 | | | | pm. For the rest, the music throbs on into the early |
| representatives elected every 5 years. The President | | | | hours of the morning. The older generation of visitors |
| represents the unity of the nation. | | | | to Malta are usually quite content with hotel |
| After centuries of foreign domination, it is not | | | | entertainments, which take the form of folk nights, |
| surprising that the Maltese are resilient people. Their | | | | cabarets and possibly discos. These events are |
| attitude towards visitors is friendly and hospitable. | | | | normally open to non residents. |
| Like the Latins, the Maltese are a proud nation. They | | | | |