Sliema or as it is known amongst the locals Tas-Sliema, is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta's most recent hotels. Sliema, which means in Maltese means 'peace and comfort', was once a quiet fishing town on the peninsula across Marsamxett Harbour from Valletta. Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julian's constitute Malta's main coastal resort.

Until mid-19th century Sliema was known as Qortin, after a small church on the headland enacted in honour of Our Lady of Qortin. It was built on the site of a niche which was destroyed during the Great Siege. Qortin is a topographical term, commonly used in Malta, indicating localities overlooking the sea or plains. The tip at the harbour entrance became known also as Dragut Point, indicating the fall of the Ottoman Commander Dragut during the Great Siege of 1565.

Given its location at the entrance of a harbour, Sliema was regarded by the great seafarers and travels to be a safe haven. Hence, Sliema had adopted the definition of a Safe Arrival or Safe Haeven, in other words Porto Salvo, a title which had become popular during the 16th and 17th centuries in several maritime churches in Sicily, especially around the harbours.