Adopted by Emmaus Baptist Church, Oklahoma, USA.
Tucked away in the residential area are some of Malta's enigmatic cart ruts. Thought to date back to the Bronze Age, these curious parallel grooves cut in the rock have defied clear explanation. They may have been used for some sort of prehistoric vehicle, perhaps for the carrying of soil.
San Gwann is the site of a remarkable troglodyte church, tal-Mensija Chapel, dating back earlier than the 15th century. The sanctuary and sacristy are completely underground, and accessed by a flight of stairs descending into the middle of the cave. Its origins are shrouded in mystery and legend. Pope Leo XII granted the small church privileges in 1879 and it remains to this day a place of devotion, with services held weekly.
VILLAGE Weblinks
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Adopted by Westport Road Baptist Church, Kentucky, USA.
There are several fortifications in the Sliema area, mostly built by the Knights. In 1872 the fortification in Ghar id-Dud was built, with a unique military Gothic style, while between 1876 and 1884 Fort Cambridge was built in the Sliema area.
Sliema started taking shape towards the end of the 19th century, when wealthy Valletta residents started building summer houses around the Balluta area. Eventually, these magnificent mansions started becoming permanent residences and Sliema began to grow rapidly.
During the early nineteen sixties, Sliema was the first town to develop the idea of a tourism industry, which was to become a vital income for Malta's economy. Many hotels, catering and entertainment establishments were built, turning Sliema into one of the most commercial and tourist towns in Malta, attracting both Maltese and tourists all year round.
A suburb of Sliema, Paceville, is the place to be at night-time, with seemingly every Maltese aged 14 to 25 flocking there after dark. Of course all partying tourists swell the ranks as all the nightlife is there. The main attractions in Paceville are the wall-to-wall disco's and bars, in addition to Malta's only bowling alley, ice-skating rink and IMAX theatre, plus a 16-screen cinema and innumerable games arcades, cafe's, fast-food places and karaoke bars.
SLiema now has a population of over 13,000 inhabitants, served 10 Catholic churches including four parish churches, each dedicated to a different patron saint.
It is considered to be a prime tourist area and attracts many Maltese and tourists to its spectacular promenade running along the coastline, and numerous entertainment and shopping spots.
Sliema Weblinks
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Adopted First Baptist Church, Madisonville, Tennessee, USA on 1st May 2004.
This Local Council area is very large, and also covers other villages; Burmarrad, Qawra, Bugibba, Xemxija, Mselliet, San Martin and part of Bidnija, Mistra and Ghajn Tuffieha!
The village of St. Paul's Bay grew after World War II and provided summer residences for families living inland, a tradition still kept today. Many young families have now settled here permanently, making St Paul's Bay an all year resort.
During the 1960's and 1980's, the area mushroomed into a major resort, expanding southwards and including the areas known as Bugibba and Qawra. Today these provide many holiday facilities such as restaurants and rentals, and accommodation in hotels which have mushroomed all over the area. St. Paul's Bay is popular for swimming, restaurants, cafes and beach bars, and pleasant walks in the cooler months.
Its main physical attraction is the arguably best looking bay on the Islands, with the photogenic St Paul's Islet in the focal point, and some stunning views over St. Paul's Islands, Comino and Gozo.
St. Paul's Bay Weblinks
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San Gwann is a recent development which grew in the 1960s from several smaller communities. It is a sought-after residential area lying just inland from Sliema. Shops and cafes sprung up rapidly in the past decade, to the extent that San Gwann has become a busy commercial centre in its own right.
The name Sliema is derived from the Arabic word 'Sliem' which means Peace. This may be something of a misnomer however as Sliema is now one of the busiest towns on the island!
St. Paul's Bay is so called as local legend has it that Paul and the sailors washed up in that area. (See the Book of Acts, chapters 27 and 28). St. Paul's Bay, or San Pawl il-Bahar, has been a fishing village for over a thousand years.