From farmhouses to apartments, there are plenty of properties to choose from on Malta or its offshore island Gozo, writes Kate McMorrow

Land of Honey, Treasure Island, Refuge of Calypso - the Maltese archipelago has many names, all redolent of the rich history that marks out this group of Mediterranean islands as something special.

A kaleidoscope of several civilisations, Malta has uniquely preserved all traces of its colourful past, from bronze age settlers, St Paul and the Knights Templar to the British, who awarded the George Cross to the Maltese people for their endurance during the Great Seige of 1942.

As a result of this rich heritage, Malta and the offshore island of Gozo are fascinating places for anyone interested in archaeology and history.

Their greatest treasure, however, is the people - a friendly population which holds festivals at the drop of a hat and goes out of its way to help strangers. Both English and Maltese is spoken, so there is no language barrier for visitors.

Small wonder then that, despite the scarcity of long sandy beaches, Irish people come here year after year for holidays. Many buy holiday homes and a few settle for good in Malta, seduced by the warm climate and easy-going lifestyle.

When Malta joins the EU next May, restrictions on multiple property ownership will ease, pushing up prices. Proximity to a beach shouldn't be a priority for househunters, as the island's few beach resorts are somewhat tacky and swimming off rocks in Malta's azure waters is the norm here.

With seven offices around the islands, Malta's largest estate agent, Frank Salt, is well-placed to find that ideal second home. From restored period farmhouses in the local golden stone to smart apartments overlooking Valletta Bay, buyers have plenty to choose from.

There is a strong North African influence in Maltese architecture. Tiled courtyards with fountains and masses of exotic flowers in pots are traditional, with Moroccan-style roof terraces. Temperatures in the 30s in summer and rarely dipping below 17° in winter means residents tend to live outdoors for much of the year.

Irish visitors have had a love affair with Gozo for years and small wonder. Often described as the west of Ireland with sun, this magical island is a relaxing spot, its stone-walled fields a mass of wildflowers in the spring.

Every weekend in August, parishes compete with each other to put on spectacular festivals, with fireworks, brass bands and costume parades. Anything sparks off a celebration in Malta, from a football win to a saint's day.

Like the main island, traditional farmhouses in Gozo are almost always located in villages. For sale through Frank Salt's Victoria office, a traditional Gozo farmhouse in the village of Xaghra (pronounced Shara) has a large living area with wood-burning stove, kitchen and en suite bedroom on the ground floor. Exterior stone steps climb to the next level, where two further en suite bedrooms overlook the central courtyard and pool. The house is being sold air-conditioned and fully-furnished for €305,000.

At the other end of the scale are luxury apartments in the main port of Valletta, or in resort areas such as St Julian's and Sliema.

There is a bustling cosmopolitan atmosphere in the port area; rental potential is excellent.

Frank Salt is handling a waterfront development at the tip of Tigne Point in fashionable Sliema, where top range three-bed split-level apartments cost around €825,000.

A typical resale apartment with great views over St. Julian's Bay will cost around €143,000, while a spectacular top floor apartment in Vittoriosa, at the entrance to Grand Harbour, will set you back €354,000.

One last thing: don't come back from Malta without going on one of the quaint local buses that ply back and forth between St Julian's and Valletta.

Run as individual fiefdoms and full of character, they are cheap, frequent, great fun and a sure-fire way to meet the locals.