Malta

Why it sticks

1. 1

   The George Cross on Malta's flag was awarded by King George VI for the islanders' resistance during the WWII siege.

2. 2

   Maltese is the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet and an official EU language.

3. 3

   Its megalithic temples, such as Ġgantija, are older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.

4. 4

   Malta is the EU's smallest member state by both area and population.

• Drives on the left.
• Honey-coloured limestone buildings with enclosed, colourful wooden balconies (gallariji).
• Maltese letters ħ, ġ, ż and "għ" on signs.
• Licence plates have the EU strip with "M" and the format "ABC 123".
• Dense towns and dry, terraced fields with stone walls.