A European country that has important historical ties with Spain

Malta is an archipelago located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of the island of Sicily, which has been an independent country since 1964.

Spanish urban explorers enter a former British naval base in Malta
A World War II torpedo depot on Mount Erice, on the island of Sicily

Since the Middle Ages, Malta has had a close relationship with Spain. In 1282 it became part of the Crown of Aragon along with the rest of the Kingdom of Sicily. In 1530, King Charles I of Spain ceded Malta to the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem, a military order that has since become popularly known as the Order of Malta. In 1565, the Knights Hospitaller, with help from Spain, defeated the Ottomans in a siege that lasted almost four months, facing a large Turkish force of 160 galleys and 30,000 men.

Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Malta for France in 1798, beginning a two-year occupation that was later replaced by British rule. Malta experienced one of its toughest moments during the Second World War, when the Axis forces subjected the archipelago to a three-year siege with some 3,000 air raids. As in 1565, Malta resisted, its heroism being recognized with the collective award of the George Cross, granted by King George VI of England in recognition of the heroism of its inhabitants. This cross now appears in the canton of the Maltese flag.

For years, this archipelago has been a major tourist destination for its architectural gems, beautiful landscapes, and sunny climate. We can see a glimpse of this in a spectacular video published by Joshua Turner a few days ago, which shows us the landscapes of Malta recorded from an FPV drone:

You can see some screenshots from the video here as a preview. Below these lines, we can see the cliffs of Comino, a small island located between Malta (the largest island in the country) and Gonzo Island.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta ‘Pinu, a Catholic basilica located in Gharb, on Gonzo Island, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Malta is a Catholic country and has one of the largest Catholic populations in the world, with 98% of the population declaring themselves faithful to the Catholic Church.

An image of Valletta, the capital of Malta. The city’s name comes from Jean Parisot de La Valette, Grand Master of the Order of Malta who defended this island from the Ottoman siege of 1565.

A beautiful view of Valletta at dusk, with the domes of its churches and other historic buildings.