![Hotel Savoy, Sliema circa 1915
"My family recently came into possession of this vintage photograph. The Savoy Hotel at the top of Rue d'Argens, photographed by Richard Ellis, British-Maltese photographer who was one of the pioneers of photography in Malta during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Studebaker-Garford 1904-11 model automobile in the frame has the Savoy Hotel chauffeur driving the hotel’s proprietor, Joseph Galea and his wife Annetta (my grand-parents). My grandfather, Joseph Galea (1874-1955), owned several of these vehicles.
In its heyday, the Savoy was a prominent hotel, managed by my grandfather from 1904-48. It boasted magnificent views of the Sliema promenade.
My father, Henry Galea LRSM (London), who was born and raised at the Savoy said that on a clear day you could see the outline of Sicily, some 60 miles north of Malta.
Photo courtesy of Michael Sammut, and my brother Edwin Galea.
It’s highly likely that this photo was taken during World War I." - Ray Galéa [1]](https://prod-images.planyourroadtrips.com/img/city-images/sliema-mt-359125-145018/4-Hotel_Savoy__Sliema_1915.jpg?w=1080&q=80&f=webp)
landmark
Valletta
UNESCO-listed Baroque fortress city built by the Knights of St John, packed with more historic monuments per square metre than any other city.
2 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeMaltaTas-Sliema
Sliema
Tas-Sliema, Malta · Europe
About Sliema
Sliema works well as a base: 3km from Fort St Angelo.
Sliema is in Tas-Sliema, Malta, with about 23,000 people. You drive on the left here.
Sliema (Maltese: Tas-Sliema [tɐˈsːlɪːmɐ]) 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, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the most densely populated town on the island.
Lining the coastline is aRead more
promenade known as the Sliema Front that has become the popular spot for joggers and walkers as well as a prolific meeting place for locals during the summer season. Sliema is also known for its numerous rocky beaches, water sports and hotels. The Strand in Sliema is a popular viewing spot for fireworks displays that take place in August.
Sliema, which means 'peace' or 'comfort', was once a quiet fishing village on the peninsula across Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta and has views of the capital city. The population began to grow in 1853 and the town was declared a parish in 1878. Now Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julian's constitute Malta's main coastal resort.
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 Sliema. Sliema has now been ringed with modern apartment blocks, some of which are amongst the tallest buildings in Malta. This has resulted in significant traffic, parking and construction-related noise pollution issues.
Residents of 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 Sliema are referred to as Slimiżi.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Sliema?
Within an hour or so of Sliema: Valletta (2 km), St John's Co-Cathedral (2 km), Upper Barrakka Gardens (2 km), Fort St Angelo (3 km).
Where is Sliema?
Sliema is in Tas-Sliema, Malta.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 22,591
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Malta
- Region
- Tas-Sliema
- Timezone
- Europe/Malta
- Coordinates
- 35.9125, 14.5017
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Worth the detour from Sliema
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cathedral
St John's Co-Cathedral
Baroque cathedral in Valletta built by the Knights of St John, housing Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.
2 km · about 5 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Terraced garden on Valletta's bastions overlooking the Grand Harbour and Three Cities, with a daily saluting battery firing.
2 km · about 5 min drive
castle
Fort St Angelo
Bastioned fort at the tip of Birgu commanding the Grand Harbour, central to the 1565 Great Siege and now a museum site.
3 km · about 5 min drive
ancient ruins
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
The world's only known prehistoric underground temple: three levels of chambers carved into living rock around 3300-3000 BC, with red-ochre spirals still on the ceilings. Only 80 visitors a day are admitted; book weeks ahead.
5 km · about 10 min drive
cathedral
Rotunda of Mosta
Parish church with one of the world's largest unsupported domes (37 m), modelled on the Pantheon and built by villagers between 1833 and 1860. In 1942 a Luftwaffe bomb pierced the dome during Mass and failed to explode: a replica sits in the sacristy.
7 km · about 15 min drive
landmark
Mdina
Malta's ancient walled capital known as the 'Silent City', with narrow medieval streets and sweeping views over the island.
9 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Marsaxlokk
Fishing village on Malta's southeast coast lined with painted luzzu boats, known for its Sunday fish market and waterfront restaurants.
9 km · about 15 min drive
Driving roads near Sliema
- Right hereUpper Barrakka GardensTerraced garden on Valletta's bastions overlooking the Grand Harbour and Three Cities, with a daily saluting battery firing.
- Right hereDingli CliffsMalta's highest sea cliffs on the island's west coast, with a clifftop road, chapel and open views towards the islet of Filfla.
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