Malta

Malta is a small island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Though it consists of many islands, the three main islands are Malta, Gozo, and Comino, which is largely uninhabited. Valletta, on the main island is the capital of Malta and hosts a bustling commerce area and rich history, while Gozo offers a more rural environment and summer playground for many Europeans. By virtue of its location, Malta serves as a stepping stone to Europe and North Africa and holds the distinction of being the most bombed location during World War II. Its intricate cobblestone steps ascending and descending through its streets and fortresses in and around Valletta’s Grand Harbor provided protection from multiple invaders through the centuries.