To the north Gzira merges imperceptibly into Sliema (pop. 20,000), the largest, most modern and busiest Maltese town. It is Malta's a principal shopping and tourist center, with many hotels, restaurants and cafes flanking its long seafront promenade and beach (mostly stony). It has a fine Romanesque style church, St Gregory's. Southeast of the
town a Fort Tigné, built by the Knights in 1730.
The suburb of Silema began as a fishing settlement, but by the end of the 19th century it grew into a summer retreat.
The backstreets have a handful of the graceful turn-of-the century villas that once made up the town. The town is also known for its great shopping, especially Mrabat Street, the head of Balluta Bay, Tower Road and Dragut Point.
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