Interesting facts about life in Malta that will surprise you

Malta is one of the smallest island states in the world. However, it is home to the oldest temples, which, according to one hypothesis, were built by the Atlanteans. OBOZREVATEL has collected 10 interesting facts about this country that will surprise you. It is believed that many millennia ago Malta was part of the mighty Atlantis. After the country's territory went underwater, seven islands remained intact.

An indirect but very convincing proof of this is the fact that the country's sights are older than the Egyptian pyramids. Only three of Malta's seven islands are inhabited. However, it is so hot there that people have to constantly invent ways of protection against sun and heat stroke. Thus, houses on the territory of the state are located very close to each other so that narrow streets are in the shade all day long.

More than one and a half million tourists come here every year. This makes the country one of the most attractive vacation destinations among Europeans. By the way, in 2004, Malta joined the European Union, and in 2008, it fully switched to the euro. Despite its remoteness from the mainland, the country has a lot in common with the EU. This is due to the fact that the country was a colony of Great Britain for many years, which left a mark on its culture and customs.

The Maltese are calm and friendly people. They have experienced a long history of state formation, so they have great respect for people of all nationalities. This is why crimes are very rare here. Even theft is unusual on the island. The country has one of the oldest universities in Europe, which has been operating for almost 500 years. In general, they take education seriously here. Malta is considered the largest center for learning English. There are various training camps, meetings, and evenings for teenagers from the age of 13.

However, this nation knows how to relax better than anyone else in the world. Although the islanders have very few holidays, they organize huge festivals with live music, dancing, fairs and competitions for each. People come from all over the country to attend them. By the way, according to statistics, every second Maltese has studied music. Alcoholism is a strange thing for this country too. The locals hardly ever drink strong drinks. However, everyone here drinks wine in large quantities (it costs less than water).

Maltese almost never get divorced. Even the law does not provide for such an option. A vacation in Malta will cost you more than on other islands. The fact is that most of the products in the country are imported from Europe, so the prices for vegetables, meat, or even drinking water are very high.