Paceville experiences

Located west of St. Julian's, Malta, Paceville is the name given to an informal district heavily populated with nightclubs, bars, pubs and restaurants, and is considered to be Malta's nightlife capital. Paceville is located between Spinola Point and Dragonara Point, delimiting Spinola Bay and St. George's Bay respectively.
The areas around Paceville after the war were mostly farming communities surrounded with fields, and Paceville itself only had a few restaurants. Unlike today, parking in Paceville was relatively straightforward as people used to park their cars in fields, one of them being the field on which the St. George's Park hotel was built.

Paceville's slow transition into a tourist hub commenced in the 1960s, when two major hotel corporations, the Sheraton and the Hilton, developed five-star hotel properties in the area.

The Sheraton opened its hotel in the Dragonara Peninsula. Prior to its transformation, the Dragonara Hotel served other purposes. Originally it was the summer residence of Malta's wealthiest banker, Marquis Emanuel Scicluna, known as ic-Cisk. In times of war, the palace was converted into a military hospital and headquarters of voluntary services. It was redeveloped as a casino, and has now since been redeveloped again in the 1990s by Westin Hotels.

At around the same time, a number of bars and clubs started to open in the area in view of the increasing number of British servicemen and tourists living in St. Julian's, St. Andrew's and Pembroke. Throughout the years, bars, clubs, discotheques and additional hotels were developed.

Sliema, Malta

Sliema is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a center for shopping, restaurants and café life. Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most modern hotels. Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing village on the peninsula across Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta, but now Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julian's constitutes Malta's main coastal resort.

Sliema got its name from a chapel dedicated to The Virgin Mary under the title of Star of the Sea, 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 is "Sliem Għalik Marija". With the 'Għ' being silent so the first part of the phrase would sound like 'Sliem a'.

Sliema nowadays has a great deal of turnover of foreign expatriates who reside temporarily. 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 is also the birthplace of Malta Labour Party Deputy Leader Dr. Michael Falzon, and vocalist Marc Storace of Swiss heavy metal band Krokus. 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. It is also the birthplace of Captain George Stivala O.B.E., who was the High Commissioner for Malta in Australia during the 1950s and 60s, when migration to Australia was at its peak. Sliema is Michael Mifsud's (Coventry City FC Footballer) hometown.

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 and Mother parish church dating from 1878) the Sacre Cuor, and Mount Carmel, and another one dedicated to St. Gregory the Great.

Like all Maltese towns and villages the annual parish feasts are very popular. Especially the feast held in honour of Our Lady Stella Maris (held in August) and that of the Sacre Cour (July) are among the most popular on the island. While to a lesser extent in popularity are those Our Lady of Mount Carmel (July) and St. Gregory (September).


Sliema Main Roads

1. Ċirku Dingli (Dingli Circus)
2. Ix-Xatt (The Strand)
3. Triq Bisazza (Bisazza Street)
4. Triq Ċensu Xerri (Vincent Xerri Street)]
5. Triq Għar id-Dud (Ghar id-Dud Road)
6. Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
7. Triq it-Torri (Tower Road)
8. Triq Manwel Dimech (Manoel Dimech Street)
9. Triq Rudolfu (Rodolph Street)
10. Triq Sir Adrian Dingli (Sir Adrian Dingli Street)
11. Xatt ta' Qui-Si-Sana (Qui-Si-Sana Waterfront)
12. Xatt ta' Tignè (Tignè Waterfront)

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.The town is subdivided into informal districts which are Paceville, Ta' Ġiorni, Tal-Għoqod, St. Andrew's, as well as the regions surrounding St. George's Bay, Spinola Bay, Balluta Bay, and Il-Qaliet cliffs.

St. Julian's is a popular town, usually flowing with tourists, especially during the summer months. It is also a well-sought after destination by the Maltese.

The population of St. Julian's is 7,667 people

The earliest documentary evidence is of the pastoral visit of Bishop Tommaso Gargallo of 1601 to this church. He states that he Church was built in 1580 and was dedicated to Saint Julian. In 1736, when Monsignor Alpheran de Bussan re-visited St Julian’s, he noted that the locality was already known as Portus Sancti Juliani, meaning after the patron saint, evidence that the previous medieval name Qaliet Gnien il-Fieres was placed aside. In 1854, the 600 residents of St. Julian's applied to the church authority, in order for St Julian’s to become a parish. The Birkirkara chapter protested strongly against such an application and consequently the application was withheld. Nevertheless, another similar application was send in 1891 and the request was accepted. Dun Guzepp Scerri became the first parish priest.

The town is named after the patron saint of the town, Saint Julian, widely known as Julian the Hospitaller and also as Julian the Poor. Before the reform to the Calendar of Saints, the memorial to St. Julian was on January 27. Nowadays, the is celebrated on February 12, though in Malta an additional feast, in the spirit of the many summer festas around the island, is celebrated on the last Sunday of August.

St. Julians Main Roads

1. Mini Sun Yat-Sen (Sun Yat-Sen Tunnels)
2. Pont Ġużè Ellul Mercer (Ellul Mercer Bridge)
3. Pont Manwel Dimech (M.D. Bridge)
4. Telgħat San Ġiljan (St. Julian's Hill)
5. Triq Birkirkara (Birkirkara Road)
6. Triq Dragunara (Dragonara Road)
7. Triq Elija Zammit
8. Triq Ġorġ Borg Olivier (George Borg Olivier Street)
9. Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
10. Triq il-Knisja (Church Street)
11. Triq il-Professur W.Ganado (Profs. W.Ganado Street)
12. Triq l-Imrabat (Mrabat Street)
13. Triq Lapsi
14. Triq Manwel Dimech (Manoel Dimech Street)
15. Triq Mikiel Anġ' Borg (Micheal Angel Borg Street)
16. Triq Reġjonali (Regional Road)
17. Triq San Ġorġ (St George's Road)
18. Triq Sant' Andrija (St Andrew's Road)
19. Triq Santu Wistin (St. Augustine Street)
20. Triq Ta' Ġiorni (Ta' Ġiorni Road)
21. Xatt ta' San Ġorġ (St. George's Strand)

Mdina - Silent City

Mdina is the old capital of Malta. It is a medieval town, with narrow quiet streets, situated in the centre of the island. It is also known as the "Silent City". It commands a magnificent view of the Island.

Evidence for settlement in Mdina goes back to over 4000 BC. It was first fortified by the Phoenicians around 700 BC, probably because of its strategic location on one of the highest points on the island and as far from the sea as possible. When Malta came under control of the Roman Empire, the Roman Governor built his palace there. It was here in 60 CE that the Apostle St. Paul is said to have lived after being shipwrecked on the Islands. The city earned its present day name from the Sicilian Arabs who came to Malta around 870 CE. They surrounded the city with thick defensive walls and a wide moat, separating it from its nearest town, Rabat.

The Normans conquered Malta in 1091. A strong earthquake in 1693 destroyed a large number of buildings in Mdina. After the earthquake the Cathedral was rebuilt on the designs of the Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafa.

Today, no cars (other than those of a limited number of residents, emergency vehicles, wedding cars and hearses) are allowed in Mdina and there is a calming atmosphere as one walks along its narrow streets and ways. The city displays an unusual mix of Norman and Baroque architecture, including several palaces, most of which serve as private homes. The Cathedral is worth visiting and is fronted by a large square.

Places of interest
St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
Vilhena Palace
Palazzo Falzon (Norman House)
St. Agatha's Chapel
St. Nicholas' Chapel
Natural History Museum
Mdina Dungeons
Carmelite Church & Convent
Mdina Experience
Benedictine Monastery
Bastions

Sports
Founded in 2006, the Mdina Knights are currently enjoying a positive moment in the third division league organised by Malta's football governing body, the Malta Football Association.

Mdina Main Roads
Misraħ il-Kunsill Ċittà Notabile (Notabile City Council Square)
Pjazza San Pawl (St Paul Square)
Pjazza San Publiju (St Publius Square)
Pjazza ta' l-Arċisqof (Archbishop Square)
Pjazza Tas-Sur (Bastion Square)
Pjazzetta Beata Marija Adeodata Pisani (Blessed Mary Adeodata Pisani Square)
Triq Inguanez (Inguanez Street)
Triq is-Sur (Bastion Street)
Triq San Pawl (St Paul Street)
Triq Santu Rokku (St Rocco Street)
Triq Villegaignon (Villegaignon Street)

Msida, Malta

Msida is a harbor town in the northeast of Malta. It has a population of 7,623 inhabitants. Although relatively small, it is one of the most important towns in Malta.

Its name comes from an Arabic word meaning "a fisherman's dwelling". However it could also be derived from the word 'Omm Sidna' meaning 'The Mother of Our Lord' since there could have been a small chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.

Msida was previously an old fishing village. Although it is now more urbanised, some fishermen still operate in the village.

Msida became a parish in 1867. Then the settlement was centered around the hovels located inward at Valley Road, and some nearby ancillary roads and pathways which led up to the quaint district of Villambrosa. This status did not last long however, as a new parish Ħamrun was hived off in 1881. Today the lowest part of Villambrosa Street remains a silent reminder of Msida's jurisdiction in this area. Msida would also eventually see parts of its territory lost to new parishes at Santa Venera in 1918, Pietà in 1968 and Ta' Xbiex in 1969.

Its population, which at one time numbered 11,000, thus also dwindled to a mere 6,000. However the recent aforementioned demands as well as residential developments in the outlying suburb of Swatar, have now seen an increase to more than 7600 inhabitants. Swatar also hosts St. Martin's College, a leading private secondary school.

Today, Msida is now a bustling university town and development has in fact been centered around an ever increasing student population at the University, as well as various new service industries that have sprung in this town in recent years.

Culture
Msida traditionally celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph on the first Sunday after July 19 every year. The local football club is Msida St. Joseph F.C.

Band Clubs
Melita Club St. Joseph Band (L-Għaqda Melita Banda San Ġużepp)

Msida Main Roads
Misraħ Ġużè Ellul Mercer (Ellul Mercer Square)
Misraħ il-5 ta' Ottubru (5th October Square)
Misraħ il-Menqa (Menqa Square)
Triq D'Argens (Rue D'Argens)
Triq il-Marina (Marina Street)
Triq il-Prinċipessa Margarita (Princess Margreth Street)
Triq il-Wied ta' l-Imsida (Msida Valley Road)
Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli (M.A. Vassalli Road)
Triq Reġjonali (Regional Road)
Xatt ta' l-Imsida (Msida Strand)
Xatt Ta' Xbiex (Ta' Xbiex Strand)