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| Claire Fontaine in a coloured street, Tas-Sliema |
Sliema, in Maltese Tas-Sliema, is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta in the Northern Harbour District. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, dining, and café life. Lining the coastline is a promenade known as the Tas-Sliema Front, that has become the ideal spot for joggers and walkers as well as a prolific meeting place for locals during the summer season. Romantic moon strolls, barbeques and open air restaurants Tattoo and Piercing and cafes have made Sliema the hub of social nightlife. Tas-Sliema is also known for its numerous rocky beaches, water sports and hotels.
More information: My Guide Malta
Tas-Sliema, which means peace, comfort, was once a quiet fishing village on the peninsula across Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta and boasts beautiful views of the capital city. The population began to grow in 1853 and the town was declared a parish in 1878. Now Tas-Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julian's constitutes Malta's main coastal resort.
Tas-Sliema is considered a desirable place to live and is relatively affluent, with extremely high property prices compared to the national average. Historically, stylish villas and traditional Maltese townhouses lined the streets of Tas-Sliema.
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| Joseph de Ca'th Lon in the coast of Tas-Sliema |
Residents of Tas-Sliema are stereotypically known for their usage of English as a first language, although this is changing in the 21st century due to demographic shifts. Maltese people from Tas-Sliema are referred to as Slimiżi.
Tas-Sliema got its name from the Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel, that now no longer exists. It periodically served as a reference point for the sailors and fishermen in Marsamxett Harbour. The name could thus be connected with the first words of the Hail Mary prayer, which in Maltese is Sliem Għalik Marija.
Tas-Sliema is the Maltese word meaning peace and was used to salut someone. The triconsonantal root of the word is Š-L-M. The construction age of the church is unknown but it was included in a map by the Order of St. John even before being handed the Maltese islands to them.
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 Tas-Sliema stands.
Fort Tigné was eventually built by the Knights of St. John in the late 18th century and further developed by the British in later years.
In 1855 a new church dedicated to Our Lady Star of the Sea or Stella Maris was opened to public worship. Around the new church, the small village grew into a town.
By 1878, the population grew to such an extent that the religious authorities had the Stella Maris Church declared a parish in its own right and it was separated from St.Helen's parish of Birkirkara. The town began to develop rapidly in the second half of the 19th century becoming popular as a summer resort for wealthier Valletta residents. Their elegant villas and town houses lined the quiet, inland streets.
Fort Tigné was eventually built by the Knights of St. John in the late 18th century and further developed by the British in later years.
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| The Grandma contemplates Tas-Sliema, Malta |
By 1878, the population grew to such an extent that the religious authorities had the Stella Maris Church declared a parish in its own right and it was separated from St.Helen's parish of Birkirkara. The town began to develop rapidly in the second half of the 19th century becoming popular as a summer resort for wealthier Valletta residents. Their elegant villas and town houses lined the quiet, inland streets.
Various Victorian buildings graced its three kilometre sea promenade which overlooked rugged rocks, farms and even a small sandy beach. In 1990 one of these farms which had been abandoned, was transformed into a coastline garden known as Ġnien Indipendenza, Independence Garden.
A few Victorian, as well as art nouveau houses, still remain in the inner streets, although only a handful remain along the shoreline, as there has been significant modern development of apartment blocks and hotels. A distinctive group of six traditional houses with Maltese balconies has survived remarkably intact at Belvedere Terrace, set back from Ix-Xatt. These houses overlook Manoel Island to the South across the Tas-Sliema Creek; the houses have heritage protection and the lower buildings between them and Ix-Xatt cannot be built upwards.
The British built a number of fortifications on the Tas-Sliema peninsula in the 19th century. These were Sliema Point Battery (1872–76), Cambridge Battery (1878–86) and Garden Battery (1889–94). In addition, the 18th century Fort Tigné remained in use as well, and barracks were built on the Tigné peninsula.
More information: Malta Uncovered
The British built a number of fortifications on the Tas-Sliema peninsula in the 19th century. These were Sliema Point Battery (1872–76), Cambridge Battery (1878–86) and Garden Battery (1889–94). In addition, the 18th century Fort Tigné remained in use as well, and barracks were built on the Tigné peninsula.
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| Visiting Stella Maris Church in Tas-Sliema, Malta |
In 1882 the distillery was decommissioned and the building, which still stands today, has been occupied by a printing press since that time. The barracks it supplied water to were demolished in 2001 in order to make way for the development of Tigné Point development. The town has a considerable number of streets connected with the British era in Malta, such as Norfolk Street, Amery Street, Windsor Terrace, Graham Street, Milner Street and Fort Cambridge.
Tas-Sliema has been the site of intensive development in recent decades. The Victorian houses that lined Tower Road have all been replaced by apartment buildings built in modern architectural style. Several of these boast beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea or Valletta but their development has been controversial.
More information: The Culture Trip
Development, high population density, parking issues, and high property prices have led many younger people originally from the area are choosing to live elsewhere on the island and consequently Tas-Sliema is suffering from an aging population.
There are several foreign expatriates who reside in Tas-Sliema. There remains net inward migration to Tas-Sliema. The prevalence of use amongst Tas-Sliema residents of English as a first language is decreasing although remains significantly higher than other localities on the island.
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| Tina Picotes enjoying Tas-Sliema at night |
Sliema has a number of Catholic churches such as the one dedicated to Jesus of Nazareth known as In-Nazzarenu, three dedicated to Our Lady: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Stella Maris, which is the oldest Catholic church and thus the mother church dating from 1855, and one dedicated to a saintly Pope St. Gregory the Great.
In addition to the above list of churches, is the Anglican Holy Trinity Church Built in 1866 in Rudolphe Street.
More information: Times of Malta
I only really and truly fully relax on my own.
Give me a sun lounger, a pool and a sea view, and I'm happy.
Miranda Hart
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