Malta

A diverse array of temples, monuments, and artifacts of more than 7000 years of continuous human habitation make this tiny Mediterranean nation a sort of “treasure island” — or islands, rather, as there are three: Comino, Gozo, and Malta. Archaeologists and really anyone with even a passing interest in anthropology love the place. Across the famously beige and rocky countryside, you can expect to see reminders of Neolithic farmers and Megalithic temples as well as rule by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Aghlabids, Normans, French, and English. Post-war, Malta gained its independence in 1964 before officially becoming a republic in 1974 and then a member of the EU in 2004. As is typical in the region, the warm season is hot and dry, making the spring and fall the prime times to visit. Skies are mainly clear year-’round, giving the surrounding waters an alluring turquoise hue. Various cliffs and grottoes punctuate the shoreline, off of which anglers catch fish and other fruits of the sea.