Malta is a small archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, it includes the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. It is the cradle of a very rich and very old culture; colonized by the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Arabs, the knights of the Order of St John, the French and finally by the British, the archipelago has built up a charming culture of its own based on those various influences. English -the official language with Maltese- and the red phone booth are some of the only remains of the British presence. The architecture, the way of life and the food are typically Mediterranean. The main sea resort -Sliema / St Julians- is located right in front of Valletta, the capital. Full of life all year long the city is particularly prized by young students for language courses. Valletta is also the main harbor of the island. Malta is dry and rocky and does not have many beaches. Though they are not numerous, beaches are all very pleasant and most of them are a mere 15 minutes by bus from Sliema.