Sizilien, Malta & Gozo entdecken

About the destination: Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It constitutes an autonomous Region of Italy, along with surrounding minor islands, officially referred to as Regione Siciliana (in Italian, Sicilian Region) . Sicily is located in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula, from which it is separated by the narrow Strait of Messina. Its most prominent landmark is Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, currently 3,329 m (10,922 ft) high, and one of the most active in the world. The island has a typical Mediterranean climate. The earliest archaeological evidence of human activity on the island dates from as early as 12,000 BC. By around 750 BC, Sicily had three Phoenician and a dozen Greek colonies and, for the next 600 years, it was the site of the Sicilian Wars and the Punic Wars, which ended with the Roman Republic's destruction of Carthage at the battle of Carthage (c. 149 BC). Sicily frequently changed hands after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, and it was ruled during the early Middle Ages by the Vandals, Ostrogoths, Byzantine Empire, and the Emirate of Sicily. The Norman conquest of southern Italy led to the creation of the Kingdom of Sicily, which was subsequently ruled by the Hohenstaufen, the Capetian House of Anjou, Spain, the House of Habsburg,[7] and then finally unified under the House of Bourbon with the Kingdom of Naples as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. It became part of Italy in 1860 following the Expedition of the Thousand, a revolt led by Giuseppe Garibaldi during the Italian unification, and a plebiscite. Sicily was given special status as an autonomous region after the Italian constitutional referendum of 1946. Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature, cuisine, and architecture. It is also home to important archaeological and ancient sites, such as the Necropolis of Pantalica, the Valley of the Temples, and Selinunte.

About the destination: The Maltese Islands are a melting pot of different cultures that have each played a part in shaping our history, heritage, and lifestyle. While there remains an innate “Malteseness” in everything that we do, influences from past rulers can still be observed in our day-to-day lives. Our language is derived from Semitic roots with Italian influences and is the only language of its kind that is written in Latin script; our Capital City – Valletta – and the Islands’ fortifications, were built by the Order of the Knights of St John; our national flag bears the George Cross, an award for the country’s display of valour during the Second World War, during which Malta served as the naval base for the British; and the list goes on. 8000 years of history are condensed into an island of just 316 square kilometres, so history can be found in every corner of the island. From the oldest free-standing temple structures of the Megalithic Temples and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum to incredible feats of fortified architecture like the “silent” city of Mdina and the Capital City of Valletta, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you will also find that there is a more modern side to the Maltese Islands too. After over 160 years of British rule, Malta became an Independent nation in 1964. Since then, the Island has continued to develop into the warm and welcoming Island that we know today. From beautiful sunny beaches, to fun-filled leisure activities, luxurious experiences and, of course, historical, and cultural excursions, the Maltese Islands have something to offer to every type of traveller. An open, safe, and multicultural destination, Malta has always been a melting pot that embraces a diversity of cultures. Today, our country is one of the most inclusive places in the world, happily welcoming thousands of travellers of all kinds, shapes, sizes, colours, and creeds every year. Malta Facts • The Maltese Islands boast 300 days of sunshine throughout the year. • Malta is less than a three hour flight away from most major European airports. • The island’s total area covers just 316 km squared, meaning travel times are often kept under 20 minutes! • Maltese and English are the two official languages on the island, although many people are also fluent in Italian. • The Capital City, Valletta, was the European Capital of Culture in 2018 and is one of three UNESCO World Heritage Sites found on the island. • Malta joined the European Union on 1st May 2004 & adopted the Euro on New Year’s Day, 2008.