Maltese Islands

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Maltese Islands
Cominotto
Geography

Location	south of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea
Archipelago	Maltese islands
Total islands	8
Major islands	Malta, Gozo, Comino, Cominotto
Area	316 km²
Highest point	Ta'Dmejrek 253 m
Administration
Malta
Demographics
Population	402,000
Density	1,282 /km²/km²

The Maltese Islands are a group of islands in the Mediterranean. The main islands are Malta Island and Gozo. Other islands that form part of the archipelago include: Comino (Kemmuna), Cominotto (Kemmunett, uninhabited), Filfla (uninhabited), Fungus Rock (Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral, uninhabited), Manoel Island (which is joined to the town of Gżira, on the mainland, by a bridge), and the Islands of St. Paul (uninhabited). The Maltese Islands have been an independent republic since 1974. The centre of government, commerce and culture is the capital city of Valletta, on the eastern coast of Malta.

The Maltese Islands are predominantly Roman Catholic, and St. Paul (Maltese: San Pawl) and the Blessed Virgin Mary (Maltese: l-Imqaddsa Verġni Marija) are considered to be their Patron Saints, with particular devotion annually on the following dates:

February 10, which is the date attributed to St. Paul's shipwreck on Malta (Maltese: in-Nawfraġju ta' San Pawl), and the Christianization of Malta.
Friday before Good Friday (il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira), the day of Our Lady of Sorrows (Maltese: id-Duluri)
June 29, the feast of St Peter and St Paul (Maltese: L-Imnarja)
August 15, the feast of the Assumption (Maltese: Marija Assunta).
September 8, the feast of Our Lady of Victories (Maltese: il-Vittorja), a date which has deep historical significance for the Maltese.
December 8, the feast of Immacualte Conception (Maltese: Il-Kunċizzjoni)