Welcome to Malta!

South of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, Malta has developed a unique culture influenced by the various powers of their day that claimed the islands through the ages.

EarthCam and affiliate, Alberta Group, are proud to offer dramatic live views of the entrance to historic Valletta Grand Harbour, where the vessels of dominant empires from ancient Phoenicia in about 700 BC to Great Britain in the last century passed to rule the central Mediterranean Sea archipelago.

The architecture of the islands from the oldest freestanding structure in the world, the temple of Hagar Qim (about 3200 BC) to 16th Century bastions -- visible on camera -- built by the Knights of St.John, to protect the islands from the Ottoman Empire, offer a majestic look into the past.

The waterfront is lined with restaurants and shops and provide visitors with amenities while they plan tours of the historic sites, baroque churches and a variety of intriguing locations or make arrangements to take a leisurely educational and pleasurable cruise of the harbors.

Although Malta is celebrating 34 years as a republic, the natural harbors and the strategic location of the islands have enticed civilizations throughout recorded time.

The islands said to be first colonized by the Phoenicians, were later ruled by Carthaginians, the Romans, the Byzantine Empire, the Moors, the Holy Roman Empire, the Knights of Malta, Napoleon and finally Great Britain until December, 13, 1974 when the Islands became a republic. Malta's unique character along is drawn from all the civilizations, which have left their influence on the makeup of the language, food, architecture, and religions.