Malta is an island in the centre of the Mediterranean 100 km south of Italy and enjoys sunny weather practically all the year round. The skies are invariably blue and the sea is warm even in winter which has made Malta popular with water-sport enthusiasts. It is the ideal place for scubadiving, skiing, swimming, sailing, windsurfing, waterpolo and fishing. Most sports facilities are available on the island including golf, tennis, and horse-riding. The English Language Academy is set in the popular holiday resort area of Sliema and close to St Julian’s, Gzira and Valletta. Click here for a small map of Sliema Click here for a large map of Sliema and surroundings Malta and its smaller sister island Gozo are rich in history. Malta is full of prehistoric temples (the oldest surviving standing man-made structures in the world), subterranean neolithic temples, catacombs, the Auberges and the formidable fortifications of the Knights of St. John which are still in a remarkable state of preservation. Valletta, the capital of Malta, and Mdina, the capital city before the coming of the Knights, boast of many art galleries and museums. The Cathedral of the Knights of St. John in Malta, is unique for its architecture, paintings and its pavement covered with the coats of arms of the most illustrious families of Europe.
Among the many treasures in the church one can find Caravaggio’s “St. Jerome” and his only signed masterpiece “The Beheading of St. John”. The Manoel in all its baroque finery is one of Europe’s oldest theatres. In spite of its size Malta is a modern country teeming with life, commerce and industry.
In summer particularly there is an air of festivity throughout the whole Island – the seaside is dotted with the fire of a thousand barbeques, and every week-end there are feasts in different towns and villages in a blaze of colour and with incomparable firework displays. With 160 years under British rule Malta is the most British place in Europe and the Mediterranean. Any newsagent sells English newspapers of the day. Students coming to Malta have every opportunity to practise their English since the language is widely spoken.