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Sliema

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Image:Sliema Strandpromenade, Malta.jpg thumb|300px|Water front of Sliema '''Sliema''' is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is, relatively speaking, a modern town. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most recent hotels. Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing town on the peninsula across Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta. Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julian's constitutes Malta's main coastal resort.

The effect of the British
It is renowned for the predominant use of English language English, distingushing it from all other villages and towns in Malta. This usage of English has however spread to nearby towns like Swieqi and St. Julian's as well as other upmarket localities like Attard and Balzan. The town has a considerable number of streets named after English governors or places, such as Norfolk Street, Prince of Wales Road (which was in fact opened by Prince Albert himself when he visited the island), Graham Street, Milner Street and Fort Cambridge among others.

Politics
The people of the town are predominantly Nationalist Party (Malta) Nationalist supporters and arguably the staunchest supporters of the European_Union EU. This may also explain why here the PN polled 75% of the total votes in the 2003 general elections. However, a dispute regarding a carpark development, has led to a number of Nationalists refusing the vote in the previous and forthcoming elections. In the meantime, support for Alternattiva Demokratika - The Green Party, has been growing.

History
At the Siege of Malta (1565) Great Siege of 1565, il-Qortin, as it was then known, was a camp centre for Ottoman Empire Turkish troops led by Dragut. He met his fate there, having been killed by a bombardment from Fort St Elmo Fort St. Elmo at the other flank of Marsamxett Harbour, where Sliema stands. Sliema eventually 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 have thus also been connected with the first words of the Hail Mary, which in Maltese language Maltese is "Sliem Għalik Marija". With the 'Għ' being silent so the first part of the phrase would sound like 'Sliem a' . 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. The town began to develop rapidly in the early 20th century as a summer resort for wealthier Valletta residents. Their elegant villas and town houses lined the quiet, inland streets. At the town's north end there is a working class district known as The Lazy Corner (apparently named after a pub that was frequented by locals and British servicemen also developed and still stands today, albeit being changed by new housing developments). Various Victorian buildings graced its three kilometre promenade which overlooked rugged rocks, farms and even a small sandy beach. The farm was eventually abandoned and in 1990, was transformed into a beautiful coastline gardens known as ''Ġnien Indipendenza'' (Independence Garden). The Victorian buildings were torn down and replaced by highrise luxury apartment blocks. A few Victorian, as well as art nouveau houses still remain in the inner streets, which have also borne the brunt of modern development. The Sliema promontory offers on one side stunning views across to Valletta and on the other, open sea views. The promenade, which runs for several kilometres from Gżira just south of Sliema to St Julian's, is ideal for walkers and joggers. There are plenty of seats along the promenade and on summer evenings the seafront becomes a sociable meeting place for locals.

Population and Notable Residents
Sliema's population currently stands at around 14,000. Until 30 years ago, it was the most populated town in Malta, with 26,000 people. As a result of its high real estate value, most of its young population had to leave since they could not afford to buy property there. As a result most of them resettled in nearby Gżira, Birkirkara and moreover in Swieqi which together with St. Julian's is regarded as Sliema's suburb. Sliema nowadays has a great deal of turnover of foreign expatriates who reside temporarily. 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. 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 Manwel Dimech who was one of Malta's leading revolutionary thinkers at the turn of the 20th century. Lower Prince of Wales Road has now been named in his honour. A new upmarket development which incorporates Fort Tigne should further enhance the town's high real estate value.

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 parish church dating from 1878) the Sacre Cuor, and Mount Carmel, and another one dedicated to St. Gregory the Great. {{malta-LocalCouncils}} Category:Towns in Malta de:Sliema fr:Sliema mt:Sliema ro:Sliema fi:Sliema

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