Republic of Malta, Sliema

Sliema is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a center for shopping, restaurants and café life. Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing village on the peninsula across Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta, but now Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julian's constitutes Malta's main coastal resort.

Name

Sliema got its name from a chapel dedicated to The Virgin Mary under the title of Star of the Sea, which served as a beacon and a reference point to the few fishermen who lived in that area. The name could have thus also been connected with the first words of the Hail Mary, which in Maltese is "Sliem Għalik Marija".

History

At the Great Siege of 1565, il-Qortin, as it was then known, was a camp centre for Turkish troops led by Dragut. He met his fate there, having been killed by a bombardment from Fort St. Elmo at the other flank of Marsamxett Harbour, where Sliema stands.

In 1855 a new church dedicated to Our Lady Star of the Sea "Stella Maris" was built. Around the new church, the small village grew into a town.

The town began to develop rapidly in the second half of the 19th century and later it became popular as a summer resort for wealthier Valletta residents. Their elegant villas and town houses lined the quiet, inland streets.

In 1881 the first sea water distillery on the island was erected in Sliema (to provide water to the British barracks) on the Tinge Seafront. In 1882 the distillery was decommissioned.

Population and Notable Residents

Sliema nowadays has a great deal of turnover of foreign expatriates who reside temporarily. The town was also the residence of the late Dr. George Borg Olivier, former prime minister and architect of Malta's independence as well as the birthplace of former prime minister and leader of the opposition, Dr. Alfred Sant.

Sliema was also the temporary residence of socialist Manwel Dimech, one of Malta's foremost leading revolutionary thinkers at the turn of the 20th century, who died in exile in Egypt. Lower Prince of Wales Road has now been named in his honour. It is also the birthplace of Captain George Stivala O.B.E., who was the High Commissioner for Malta in Australia during the 1950s and 60s, when migration to Australia was at its peak. Sliema is Michael Mifsud's hometown.

Churches

Sliema has a number of churches - such as one dedicated to Jesus of Nazareth known as "In-Nazzarenu" and three dedicated to Our Lady - Stella Maris (which is the oldest and Mother parish church dating from 1878) the Sacre Cuor, and Mount Carmel, and another one dedicated to St. Gregory the Great.

Feasts

Like all Maltese towns and villages the annual parish feasts are very popular. Especially the feast held in honour of Our Lady Stella Maris (held in August) and that of the Sacre Cour (July) are among the most popular on the island.

Sports

Its football club, Sliema Wanderers is the most successful on the island, having won the domestic league no less than 26 times. They won the last three championships in a row. They are also the leading club in waterpolo, winning a total of 29 leagues. This is a clear indication that Sliema is a leading city in two main domestic sports on the island.