Malta - About the Country

The Maltese Islands are two islands, Malta and Gozo, lying in the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa. They are so close to Sicily, that Italian TV programmes can be received. The inhabitants speak Maltese, a language containing numerous influences, Arabic, English and Italian.

On both islands, limestone and karst is very common, many caves are known, several caves have been used since prehistoric times. In the middle ages various natural caves and abris and a number of tombs were converted into cave houses. And the usage of caves continued until nineteenth century.

• Għar Dalam: excavations revealed pottery from the Neolithic.
• Xaghra Stone Circle: the hypogeum originated as an underground cave.
• Il-Qlejgha: remains from the Bronze Age.
• Għar ta’ l-Iburdan: remains from the Roman Period.
• Għar is-Sigra: probably inhabited during the Phoenician Period.
• Għar il-Kbir: medieval troglodytes used it as abode.

• Additional Information about Malta
• Map of Malta
• Zpřístupnĕné jeskynĕ a podzemí v Česku A site about show caves in the Czech Republic and Malta. ()
• Show caves of Malta and Gozo
• Holed Stones on Malta, very interesting page by Franz Lindenmayr (visited: 28-JUL-2011)
• Landschaft und Höhlen auf Malta by Franz Lindenmayr (visited: 28-JUL-2011)