Sliema
Encyclopedia
Tas-Sliema is a city located on the northeast coast of Malta
. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Tas-Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Tas-Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing village on the peninsula across Marsamxett Harbour
from Valletta
. Now Tas-Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julian's
constitutes Malta's main coastal resort; as a result, Tas-Sliema has been ringed with modern apartment blocks and become engorged with traffic in recent decades causing protest from the Sliema Residents Association.
prayer, which in Maltese
is "Sliem Għalik Marija". Sliem
is the Maltese word meaning peace
.
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 Tigne was eventually developed by the Knights of St. John in the late 18th century and further developed by the British in later years. Tas-Sliema lies on a peninsula.
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 (the Strand). These houses overlook Manoel Island to the South across the Sliema Creek; the houses have heritage protection and the lower buildings between them and Ix-Xatt cannot be built upwards.
In 1881 the first sea water distillery on the island was erected in Tas-Sliema in order to provide water to the British barracks on the Tigne Seafront. 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 Tigne Point
.
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.
, former prime minister and architect of Malta's independence and the temporary residence of socialist Manwel Dimech
who was one of Malta's foremost revolutionary thinkers at the turn of the 20th century. He died in exile in Egypt and Lower Prince of Wales Road was renamed in his honour. Tas-Sliema is also the hometown of footballer Michael Mifsud
and music artist Ira Losco
.
It was the birthplace of several famous people: former prime minister Dr. Alfred Sant
; Dr. Michael Falzon
of the Malta Labour Party
; Captain George Stivala O.B.E., High Commissioner for Malta in Australia during the 1950s and 1960s; British journalist Peter Hitchens
and vocalist Marc Storace
of the Swiss heavy metal
band Krokus
.
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
(August) and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor)in July. While to a lesser extent those of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July)and St. Gregory (September)
They are also the leading club in waterpolo, winning a total of 30 leagues.
This is a clear indication that Tas-Sliema is a leading city in two main domestic sports on the island. Along with their upcoming young stars and immense support, there is surely more success in the Tas-Sliema football team as well as the Tas-Sliema waterpolo team. The Sliema ASC club have dominated the scene since 1912, collecting 30 league wins and are thus the most successful club in Malta's waterpolo history. Their main rivals are the Balluta Bay Side Neptunes.
Tas-Sliema is also home to the Athleta Basketball Club which is one of Malta's top basketball Club.
.
Over the years, the Sliema Group has collected a wealth of scouting tradition and has proudly passed this knowledge on from generation to generation.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Tas-Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Tas-Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing village on the peninsula across Marsamxett Harbour
Marsamxett Harbour
Marsamxett Harbour, also referred as Marsamuscetto in many ancient documents, is the northern of Valletta's two natural harbours on the island of Malta, separated from the southern one by the Valletta peninsula. To the north it is bounded by Gżira and Sliema as far as Dragut Point and extends...
from Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
. Now Tas-Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julian's
St. Julian's
St Julian's is a town in Malta situated along the coast, north of the country's capital, Valletta. It is known for tourism-oriented businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and nightclubs, centred mostly in an area known as Paceville.-General:...
constitutes Malta's main coastal resort; as a result, Tas-Sliema has been ringed with modern apartment blocks and become engorged with traffic in recent decades causing protest from the Sliema Residents Association.
Name
Tas-Sliema got its name from a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which served as a beacon and a reference point to the few fishermen who lived in that area. The name could thus be connected with the first words of the Hail MaryHail Mary
The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...
prayer, which in Maltese
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
is "Sliem Għalik Marija". Sliem
Sliem
Sliem is a Maltese word meaning peace, wellbeing and comfort. The town of Sliema in Malta derives its name from this word, as applied in the Maltese prayer "Sliem Għalik Marija" Sliem is a Maltese word meaning peace, wellbeing and comfort. The town of Sliema in Malta derives its name from this...
is the Maltese word meaning peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
.
The origins – The Siege of Malta
At the Great SiegeSiege of Malta (1565)
The Siege of Malta took place in 1565 when the Ottoman Empire invaded the island, then held by the Knights Hospitaller .The Knights, together with between 4-5,000 Maltese men,...
of 1565, il-Qortin, as it was then known, was a camp centre for Turkish
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
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
Marsamxett Harbour
Marsamxett Harbour, also referred as Marsamuscetto in many ancient documents, is the northern of Valletta's two natural harbours on the island of Malta, separated from the southern one by the Valletta peninsula. To the north it is bounded by Gżira and Sliema as far as Dragut Point and extends...
, where Tas-Sliema stands. Fort Tigne was eventually developed by the Knights of St. John in the late 18th century and further developed by the British in later years. Tas-Sliema lies on a peninsula.
The British period
In 1855 a new church dedicated to Our Lady Star of the Sea ("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 ChurchStella Maris Church
The Stella Maris Parish Church, Sliema, Malta is a Roman Catholic parish located in Sliema, Malta. It is the mother parish of all the churches in Sliema and Gzira being the oldest parish church dating from 1878.-History:...
declared a parish in its own right and it was separated from St.Helen's parish of Birkirkara
Birkirkara
Birkirkara or B'Kara is a city of 25,858 inhabitants in central Malta. It is the most populated town on the island and consists of four autonomous parishes: St Helen, St Joseph, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Mary. It also houses one of the most famous colleges in Malta, St Aloysius' College...
.
The town began to develop rapidly in the second half of the 19th century becoming popular as a summer resort for wealthier Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
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
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
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 (the Strand). These houses overlook Manoel Island to the South across the Sliema Creek; the houses have heritage protection and the lower buildings between them and Ix-Xatt cannot be built upwards.
In 1881 the first sea water distillery on the island was erected in Tas-Sliema in order to provide water to the British barracks on the Tigne Seafront. 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 Tigne Point
Tigne Point
-History:During the Great Siege of 1565, the Turkish privateer and Ottoman admiral Dragut ar-Rais stationed a number of cannons at Tigné Point in a siege to capture Fort St Elmo from the Knights of Malta...
.
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.
Population and Notable Residents
The population of Tas-Sliema is some 15,000 and it has a significant turnover of foreign expatriates who reside temporarily. The town was the residence of the late Dr. Giorgio Borg OlivierGiorgio Borg Olivier
Giorgio Borg Olivier was twice Prime Minister of Malta as the Leader of the Nationalist Party. He was also Leader of the Opposition between 1955 and 1958 and again between 1971 and 1977. He resigned from Leader of the Nationalist Party in 1977 and was succeeded by Eddie Fenech Adami...
, former prime minister and architect of Malta's independence and the temporary residence of socialist Manwel Dimech
Manwel Dimech
Manuel Dimech was the pre-eminent social reformer in pre-independence Malta, a philosopher, a journalist, and a writer of novels and poetry....
who was one of Malta's foremost revolutionary thinkers at the turn of the 20th century. He died in exile in Egypt and Lower Prince of Wales Road was renamed in his honour. Tas-Sliema is also the hometown of footballer Michael Mifsud
Michael Mifsud
Michael Mifsud is a Maltese footballer. He is the captain of the Malta national football team, and currently plays for Valletta. He was voted Maltese Sports Person of the Year in 2001 and 2003.-Sliema Wanderers:...
and music artist Ira Losco
Ira Losco
Ira Losco is a singer and was on born 31 July 1981 in Sliema, Malta.With a string of number 1 singles and albums, Ira Losco is one of the best selling artists in Malta.-Tiara:...
.
It was the birthplace of several famous people: former prime minister Dr. Alfred Sant
Alfred Sant
Alfred Sant is a Maltese politician. He led the Labour Party from 1992 to 2008 and served as Prime Minister of Malta between 1996 and 1998 and as Leader of the Opposition from 1992 to 1996 and from 1998 to 2008....
; Dr. Michael Falzon
Michael Falzon
Michael Falzon is a Member of the Maltese Parliament of the Malta Labour Party . He stood as a candidate for the second and tenth electoral divisions of Malta for the PL...
of the Malta Labour Party
Malta Labour Party
The Labour Party is, along with the Nationalist Party, one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta. It is the party of opposition in the Maltese House of Representatives where it has thirty-four of the sixty-nine seats.- Party Structure :...
; Captain George Stivala O.B.E., High Commissioner for Malta in Australia during the 1950s and 1960s; British journalist Peter Hitchens
Peter Hitchens
Peter Jonathan Hitchens is an award-winning British columnist and author, noted for his traditionalist conservative stance. He has published five books, including The Abolition of Britain, A Brief History of Crime, The Broken Compass and most recently The Rage Against God. Hitchens writes for...
and vocalist Marc Storace
Marc Storace
Marc Storace is a Maltese rock vocalist and songwriter. His career in music started in the 1960s, but he is most noted for his position as frontman, lead singer and songwriter of Swiss hard rock band Krokus from 1980. Before joining Krokus he sang with the Swiss progressive rockers TEA following ...
of the Swiss heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Krokus
Krokus (band)
Krokus is a hard rock/heavy metal band from Switzerland. They enjoyed moderate success in North America during the 1980s.Krokus was founded in Solothurn in 1974 by bassist Chris von Rohr and guitarist Tommy Kiefer...
.
Tas-Sliema Local Council
The current Tas-Sliema local council members are:- Gonzi Johanna (PN) (Mayor)
- Engerer Cyrus (Independent) (Deputy Mayor)
- Calì Yves (PN)
- Pace Patrick (PN)
- DeBono Martin (PL)
- Aquilina Marianne (PL)
- Nicolai Gauci (PL)
- Julian Galea (PN)
- Edward Cuschieri (PN)
- Dimech Nicholas k/a Nikki (Independent)
- Sandra Camilleri (Independent)
Schools
- Tas-Sliema Primary C – Blanche Huber Street
- St. Joseph School – Cathedral Street
- St. Francis Girl's Secondary School
- Tas-Sliema Boys Junior Lyceum
English Language Schools
- Geos English Language School
- inlingua School of Languages
- Linguatime School of English – Tower Road
- IELS – Mattew Pulis Street
- AM Language School
- ECS English Communication School
- English Language Academy
Dive Schools
- Aquanauts Dive School – NSTS Aquacentre
- Dive Systems
- Neptunes Diving Centre
- Scubanauts Dive School
- Diveshack
- H2O Divers
Landmarks
- [ Savoy Hotel ]
- Palazzo CapuaPalazzo CapuaA historic Palazzo in the heart of Sliema, that has been converted into a hotel.-External links:* http://www.palazzocapuamalta.com/Home/ThePalazzo/History/tabid/565/Default.aspx...
- The Stella Maris ChurchStella Maris ChurchThe Stella Maris Parish Church, Sliema, Malta is a Roman Catholic parish located in Sliema, Malta. It is the mother parish of all the churches in Sliema and Gzira being the oldest parish church dating from 1878.-History:...
, Mother Parish of Tas-Sliema - The Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor Parish Church (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Parish Church)
- The Chapel of Our Lady of Graces
Churches
Tas-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 CarmelOur Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries...
and Stella Maris
Stella Maris Church
The Stella Maris Parish Church, Sliema, Malta is a Roman Catholic parish located in Sliema, Malta. It is the mother parish of all the churches in Sliema and Gzira being the oldest parish church dating from 1878.-History:...
(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
Feasts
Like all Maltese towns and villages the annual Tas-Sliema parish feasts are very popular especially those held in honour of the Our Lady Stella MarisOur Lady, Star of the Sea
Our Lady, Star of the Sea is an ancient title for the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. The words Star of the Sea are a translation of the Latin title Stella Maris, first reliably used with relation to the Virgin Mary in the ninth century...
(August) and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor)in July. While to a lesser extent those of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July)and St. Gregory (September)
Band Clubs
Tas-Sliema also has four band clubs which take part in the parish feasts held in the summer months and are active all year round. These societies are Stella Maris Band Club (founded in 1914), The "Sucieta Filarmonuica SLIEMA" Band Club (founded in 1923). Mount Carmel Band Club (1987) and St. Gregory Band Club (1987).Sports
Tas-Sliema's 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 30 leagues.
This is a clear indication that Tas-Sliema is a leading city in two main domestic sports on the island. Along with their upcoming young stars and immense support, there is surely more success in the Tas-Sliema football team as well as the Tas-Sliema waterpolo team. The Sliema ASC club have dominated the scene since 1912, collecting 30 league wins and are thus the most successful club in Malta's waterpolo history. Their main rivals are the Balluta Bay Side Neptunes.
Tas-Sliema is also home to the Athleta Basketball Club which is one of Malta's top basketball Club.
Scouting
The 1st Sliema Scout Group (Bernard's Own) is the oldest surviving Scout Group outside the United Kingdom and was founded in 1909 by Sir Edgar Bernardth and are still a major influence on Scouting in MaltaScouting in Malta
The Scout and Guide movement in Malta is served by two organizations:* The Malta Girl Guides Association, member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts* The Scout Association of Malta, member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
.
Over the years, the Sliema Group has collected a wealth of scouting tradition and has proudly passed this knowledge on from generation to generation.
Zones in Tas-Sliema
- Ponta ta' DragutTurgut ReisTurgut Reis was an Ottoman Admiral and privateer who also served as Bey of Algiers; Beylerbey of the Mediterranean; and first Bey, later Pasha, of Tripoli. Under his naval command the Ottoman Empire maritime was extended across North Africa...
- Font Għadir
- Fortina
- Għar id-Dud
- Qui-Si-Sana
- Savoy
- The Strand
- Tignè
Tas-Sliema Main Roads
- Ċirku Dingli (Dingli Circus)
- Ix-Xatt (The Strand)
- Triq Bisazza (Bisazza Street)
- Triq Ċensu Xerri (Vincent Xerri Street)]
- Triq Depiro (Depiro Street)
- Triq Għar id-Dud (Ghar id-Dud Road)
- Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
- Triq it-Torri (Tower Road)
- Triq Manwel Dimech (Manoel Dimech Street)
- Triq Rudolfu (Rodolph Street)
- Triq Sir Adrian DingliAdrian DingliSir Adrian "Adriano" Dingli, GCMG, CB was Chief Justice of Malta.He was born in Valletta, the son of Sir Paolo Dingli, a lawyer who became President of the Court of Appeal. He studied at the Bishop's Seminary at Mdina and read Law at Malta University, obtaining a doctorate in law in 1836 aged 19...
(Sir Adrian Dingli Street) - Triq tal-Katidral (Cathedral Street)
- Triq Nicolò IsouardNicolas IsouardNicolas Isouard was a Maltese composer.Isouard studied in Valletta with Francesco Azopardi, in Palermo with Giuseppe Amendola, and in Naples with Nicola Sala and Pietro Alessandro Guglielmi. From 1795 he was organist at St...
(Nicolò Isouard Street) - Triq Giorgio Borg OlivierGiorgio Borg OlivierGiorgio Borg Olivier was twice Prime Minister of Malta as the Leader of the Nationalist Party. He was also Leader of the Opposition between 1955 and 1958 and again between 1971 and 1977. He resigned from Leader of the Nationalist Party in 1977 and was succeeded by Eddie Fenech Adami...
(Giorgio Borg Olivier Street) - Triq Windsor (Windsor Street)
- Xatt ta' Qui-Si-Sana (Qui-Si-Sana Waterfront)
- Xatt ta' Tignè (Tignè Waterfront)
- Pjazza Annunzjata
- Pjazza Sant'Anna
Twin towns
Les Sables-d'OlonneLes Sables-d'OlonneLes Sables-d'Olonne is a seaside town in western France, by the Atlantic Ocean. It is a commune and a sub-prefecture of the Vendée department.-Events:...
, France
HartlepoolHartlepoolHartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
, England