The Lighter Side of Malta: 3 Fun Facts

Most people know Malta as a tax haven in the southern Mediterranean – and less for its quirky trivia. But the island has more to offer than just low taxes. I won't pretend this information has any great strategic value for your business, but as someone who lives here, these facts certainly made me smile when I first heard them.

Maltese residents consume 3,511 calories a day

The Maltese feel a strong connection to the Italians, and in one respect, they are right up there with them: they love to eat. While you'll often find Mediterranean cuisine in Malta, that doesn't necessarily mean it's low-calorie. The Maltese also have a serious sweet tooth. You can find little pastizzi almost everywhere, as well as Helwa Tat-Tork, a sugary nougat mixture. It's definitely delicious, but certainly not light fare.

Malta is the backdrop for many Hollywood productions

You don't always get what it says on the tin. This is true for many film productions, and quite a few movies that pretend to be set in Greece or the South of France were actually filmed right here in Malta. For example, the movie Troy, which deals with Greek mythology, was largely filmed here, as was The Count of Monte Cristo, where Malta stood in for early Marseille.

Malta has a church for every day of the year

Malta is a deeply Christian country with a huge number of churches. While the exact number is debated, the local saying goes that the country has a separate church for every day of the year. So, if you have the time and inclination, you could technically say your prayers in a different house of worship every single day. Another fun fact about these churches: the bell towers often have multiple clocks showing different times. The purpose behind this? The incorrect times are meant to confuse the devil.