Things To Do

Lively and colourful, feasts or ‘festas’ are an important part of Maltese culture and tradition held throughout the year across towns and villages in Malta and Gozo. Festas are both religious and profane, being organized by the local parish together with local band clubs, and are an iconic part of the Maltese summer with church ceremonies, massive firework displays, processions with marching bands, and great revelry.  Every year, around 60 festas are held in Malta and 20 in Gozo. Each festa lasts around five days. Bar a few exceptions, most festas are held between the months of May and September. In St. Julians, the feast is celebrated on the last Sunday of August.

Another tradition connected with the feast of this locality is ‘Musketterija’. Starting in 1982, this tradition sees Hunters firing blank cartridges filled with black powder from the roof of the parish church as the statue of the patron saint is brought out of the church. Many say this tradition is in line with the history of the locality which used to be hunting grounds for the Knights of Malta

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 line the quiet, inland streets. The Sliema point 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 Tas-Sliema to St. Julian’s, is ideal for anyone simple for a stride or for the more active joggers. There are plenty of seats along the promenade and on summer evenings the seafront becomes a sociable meeting place for locals.