If one discounts the sparse colonisation of the Neolithic man and the Temple Builder from Sicily, the likelihood is that the Maltese are of early Caucasian stock that stemmed from the Phoenicians who moved westwards from the Levant and the headlands of the Nile and into the Mediterranean.

Charcoal Seller	Water Seller	Shell-Fish Seller	Country Man	Market Boy	Poulterer	Pie Man

While the Arabs probably brought Malta in touch with its early Semitic origins, the Europeanisation of Malta can be said to have started with the arrival of the Normans from Sicily in 1090. The Middle Ages produced a further influx of European blood, mainly Italian, Spanish and French, while the British era left copious Anglo-Saxon traces. In this way, the last millennium has seen a great variety of bloodlines being intertwined into the build-up of the Maltese populace.

Gozitan peasant	Peasant woman	Peasant woman	Maltese lady	Evening costume	Lady evening costume
Peasant man	Peasant in wedding attire	General of the Galleys of Malta	The Artillery Comander	Colonel Comander	Colonel of the Maltese Regiment

This intermingling of races and people that dominated the Mediterranean Sea has also moulded the Maltese people’s culture. The Maltese are a warm-hearted and friendly people who distinguish themselves as a peace-loving nation. They are also very accommodating and their hospitality is legendary. Also, as expected of islanders, they have a strong sense of pride in their unique Semitic tongue and lovingly forged national culture.

During the last century, there have been mass emigrations – mainly to America, Canada and Australia, and nowadays the Maltese are scattered all around the globe, with more Maltese people settled abroad than actually living in Malta.

Maltese Trades

The Maltese are noted for their stamina, perseverance and capacity for long hours of hard work – ironically not a typically Mediterranean characteristic. From the earliest times in their civilisation they took to the sea – often producing the ablest fishermen, seamen and corsairs in the Mediterranean. Furthermore, the Maltese are also well known in the Mediterranean for their business acumen, and have for many years founded trading communities all along the North African coast.

Street life	Cab	Easter	Procession	Milk Seller	Carnival

It is indeed these very people that are inviting you to visit the Maltese Islands to experience its warmth and hospitality, and to see for yourself the welter of tourist attractions that Malta has to offer. At the same time, they are inviting you to discover Cottonera where so much of Malta’s history happened and developed.