Malta is listed third in a New York Times list of 52 countries to visit in 2016.
Mexico City and Bordeaux are first and second.
The section about Malta, under the heading 'Malta - The Mediterranean on a dime' describes the island as an affordable Mediterranean playground with a superb climate, sublime beaches, megalithic temples and a distinctive crossroads culture.
English is one of two official languages, but few Americans have discovered Malta’s charms, it says before describing Valletta, Gozo and Comino.
"As Valletta celebrates its 450th anniversary this year, the old city has gotten some fresh touches, including a new city gate, a restored open-air opera house and a new parliament building, all designed by the renowned architect Renzo Piano. And in Malta, you can follow in the footsteps of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who spent their honeymoon shooting their latest film, “By the Sea,” in Gozo, which served as a more economical, but equally romantic, stand-in for the South of France. (You may also recognize the island from “The Whale” or “The Da Vinci Code.)"
The piece is authored by Dave Seminara.