Sliema

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Sliema
coat of arms map
coat of arms
Attard Balzan Birkirkara Birżebbuġa Cospicua Dingli Fgura Floriana Fontana Għajnsielem Għajnsielem Għarb Għargħur Għasri Għaxaq Gudja Gżira Ħamrun Iklin Kalkara Kerċem Kirkop Lija Luqa Marsa Marsaskala Marsaxlokk Mdina Mellieħa Mġarr Mosta Mqabba Msida Mtarfa Munxar Qala Naxxar Paola Pembroke Pietà Nadur Qormi Qrendi Rabat Safi San Ġiljan San Ġwann San Lawrenz San Pawl il-Baħar Sannat Santa Luċija Santa Venera Senglea Siġġiewi Sliema Swieqi Tarxien Ta’ Xbiex Valletta Victoria Vittoriosa Xagħra Xewkija Xgħajra Żabbar Żebbuġ Żebbuġ Żejtun Żurrieqmap
About this picture
Basic data
State : Malta
Gzejjer : Malta Majjistral (Northwest Malta)
Distretti : Northern Harbor
Area : 1,295,996 km²
Residents : 22,591
(December 31, 2018)
Population density : 17,431 inhabitants / km²
ISO 3166-2 : MT-56
Postal code : SLM
Website : http://sliemalocalcouncil.com/
politics
Mayor : Johanna Gonzi ( PN )

Coordinates: 35 ° 55 '  N , 14 ° 30'  E

Sliema and (in the foreground) Fort Tigné
Street scene with ornate balconies in the city center

Sliema (Tas-Sliema) is a city on the northeast coast of the island of Malta with many shops, restaurants, hotels and a big city atmosphere and an important commercial and residential area. Sliema, which means peace, was once a very quiet fishing village on a peninsula across from Valletta . Today Sliema and St. Julian's up the coast are Malta's most important seaside vacation spots, especially for language travelers and, because of the mild winter climate, also for older tourists.

There are five military installations on the coast: St. Julian's Tower from the 17th century, Fort Sliema from around 1880, Cambridge Battery , Garden Battery and Fort Tigne from 1760, across from Fort St Elmo . Numerous excursion boats and a ferry to Valletta depart from the port. The German Embassy is located on Tower Road.

The influence of the British

English is the main language spoken in Sliema , which distinguishes it from all other villages and towns in Malta. The use of English eventually spread to the neighboring towns of Swieqi and St. Julian's as well as to more upscale areas such as Attard and Balzan . Sliema has a considerable number of streets named after British governors or places such as: B. Norfolk Street, Prince of Wales Road (which was even inaugurated by Prince Albert personally when he visited the island), Graham Street, Milner Street, Fort Cambridge and many others.

politics

The people in Sliema mainly support the nationalists and are arguably the strongest supporters of the European Union . That could be one reason why the conservative Partit Nazzionalista (PN) got 75% of the vote in the national elections in 2003. There is also growing sympathy for the green alternative Alternattiva Demokratieika (AD).

history

During the great siege in 1565 , il-Qortin - as Sliema was then called - was a tent camp for the Turkish troops of Dragut . He had a battery of guns set up at the place where Fort Tigne is today, in order to take Fort St. Elmo under crossfire from here. Sometimes the place is still referred to as Draguts Point .

Sliema may have got its name from a chapel of the Blessed Virgin, which, as a flashing light and a landmark, led the few fishermen safely into the harbor past Fort Tigne, which was built by the Order of Malta in the late 18th century and later expanded by the British. The name could therefore come from the prayer “Hail Mary” (Maltese “Sliem Għalik Marija”, pronounced “Sliem a Maria”).

In the early 20th century, the city quickly began to develop into a summer residence for the wealthier layers of nearby Valletta. Their elegant villas and townhouses still line the quiet, inland streets. At the northern end of the city, the working-class neighborhood was known as The Lazy Corner to German about the sluggish corner , wrong that had obviously taken its name from a pub in the locals and British soldiers, and which still stands today, although the Facility has changed due to new building developments. Various Victorian buildings then adorned a three-kilometer-long promenade, from which one had a beautiful view of wild rocks, farms and even a small sandy beach. The farm was abandoned in 1990 and turned into a coastal garden known as Ġnien Indipendenza (Independent Garden). The Victorian buildings were demolished and replaced with multi-story luxury apartment blocks. However, some houses still exist in the narrow streets of Sliema and have thus survived the tremendous development towards modernity. The Sliema promontory offers partly breathtaking views over Valletta and, on the other hand, the open sea. The beach promenade, which runs for a few kilometers from Gżira in the south of Sliema to St Julian's, is ideal for walkers and joggers. There is plenty of seating and so the sea front becomes a busy meeting place for locals on mild summer nights.

Population and famous residents

Sliema's population today (as of December 31, 2018) is 22,591 people. Until 30 years ago it was still the most populous city in Malta with 26,000 inhabitants, but due to its high land prices, many, especially young people, are no longer able to cope with the prices and have to leave the city. Some of those who have left the city have settled in neighboring Gżira, Birkirkara and also in Swieqi, which, along with St. Julian's, is considered to be the outskirts of Sliema. Nowadays the city benefits from foreign nationals who spend part of the year in Sliema.

The city was also the residence of the former Prime Minister Ġorġ Borg Olivier and the birthplace of the former Prime Minister and opposition leader Dr. Alfred Sant . Sliema also temporarily housed one of the leading thinkers around the turn of the 20th century, Manwel Dimech . The Lower Prince of Wales Road has since been renamed in his honor.

Churches

Sliema has a number of churches such as the In-Nazzarenu dedicated to Jesus of Nazareth or the Sacre Cuor dedicated to the Blessed Virgin , which is Sliema's oldest parish church dating from 1878. Furthermore, one encounters the venerable Mount Carmel chapel and a church dedicated to Gregory I.

Sports

The most famous sports club in town is called Sliema Wanderers . The Wanderers have already won the Maltese football championship 26 times (most recently in 2005), making them the island nation's record champions.

photos

  • A Walk Through Sliema (1998)

  • Church of Jesus of Nazareth

  • Anglican Holy Trinity Church in Sliema

  • Fort Tigné

Born in Sliema

Town twinning

In 2004 a town twinning was signed with the French Les Sables-d'Olonne in the Vendée department .

Web links

Commons : Sliema  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wikivoyage: Sliema  - travel guide

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ StatDB of the National Statistics Office Malta , accessed on August 1, 2020