Malta is a small island country located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. It consists of several islands, with the largest being Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Malta has a long history, first being settled by Sicilian farmers thousands of years ago and later becoming an important port for Phoenician and Greek traders. Napoleon conquered Malta in 1798 before it became an independent republic. Some of Malta's most notable monuments and landmarks include the Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni, Megalithic temples, and the ancient city of Valletta.