Malta is a truly extraordinary place in the Mediterranean. The island has a long history starting from the time that is was first inhabited by settlers from Sicily way back around 5900 BC. Many megalithic structures dot the landscape with the 3 most impressive among them being Bugibba, Mnajdra, and Ggantija. The country itself is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world covering an area of around 316 square kilometers. The same story can be said for its capital which compared to the capital of the surrounding countries is very tiny. The capital is called Valletta. However, it is not the largest town in the country. That title belongs to Saint Paul’s Bay which is 14.47 square kilometers compared to Valetta which occupies an area of only 0.8 square kilometers.
While the country may be small, it is very densely populated with residents, tourists and interesting activities to do and sites to explore and containing 7000 years of history. It is a popular attraction for tourists from around the world due to its warm climate and constant sunshine as well as it’s many tourist attractions such as the prehistoric temples mentioned above as well the architecture that can be found in the country’s small towns. The island has been visited by many people from countries surrounding the Mediterannean such as ancient Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs. Over time, the relationship between all of these different people living together has made Malta one of the most cosmopolitan countries in the world.
Malta’s Two Sisters
A twenty-minute ferry ride away is Malta’s sister island known as Gozo which itself is also a part of Malta and it is the second-largest island in the Maltanesse archipelago. Gozo is a more rural and less developed island compared to Malta. Many beaches can be found here as well as popular tourist resorts such as the well-known town of Marsalforn and Xlendi. The island of Gozo is probably the location that is being mentioned by Homer in the Iliad and Odyssey as being the home of the nymph Calypso, a daughter of two titans, Atlas and Pleione. People can travel between the two islands by ferry boats that make the trip every 45 minutes.
The smaller sister of the three inhabited Maltanesse islands is Comino which is situated between the two main islands. It is the least populated island in the Mlatanesse archipelago and derives its name from the cumin seed, a seed that is used in many cuisines around the world, that once flourished on the islands. The official language spoken on the island is Maltanesse. However, English is also considered an official language and it is understood by most residents of Malta. Other spoken languages are Italian, German and French.
The iGaming Hub of Europe
In the last few years, Malta has established itself as a hub of the iGaming industry in the European sector due to the robust gaming framework that was put in place back in 2004. It made Malta the first country in Europe to regulate remote gaming. The act that has allowed the remote regulation of gambling was recently improved upon in 2018 broadening the regulatory scope and increasing the Malta Gaming Authority’s oversight. The country continues to stay in touch with the latest innovations in the iGaming industry and quickly adopt them, helping the country maintain its reputation as the online gambling center of Europe.
Technological advancements have led to the creation of many job opportunities in the country. As it becomes more complex, more talented people are needed to maintain and improve upon them, making necessary changes when needed, as well as promising career advancements. iGaming companies tend to do a really good job in hiring the best talent from different fields to help improve upon and come up with new ideas while already having around 9000 employees working in the industry. Designing new engaging interfaces, creating digital artwork and participation in the overall development process of games, especially games that can be found on online casino websites such as Slotpark.
While the Maltanesse archipelago may be small compared to other islands, there are plenty of things to do and experience in this small and dense country. Not only it is populated with a wide variety of historical landmarks for tourists to explore but it is also a place where people move to so that they can enjoy a comfortable life.
