Malta is unique in many ways. Its geography, culture, and long and chequered history all make it a place truly worth visiting. For the architecture and history students in particular, the Maltese archipelago offers an unparalleled experience of military structures and fortifications. Indeed, in spite their small size (Malta has a surface area of only 320 sq. km) the Maltese islands contain one of the richest concentrations of ramparts fashioned in stone to be found anywhere in the world.