DOCSLIB.ORG

The Urban Heat Island Effect in Malta and the Adequacy of Green Roofs in Its Mitigation Jonathan Scicluna James Madison University

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Urban Heat Island Effect in Malta and the Adequacy of Green Roofs in Its Mitigation Jonathan Scicluna James Madison University James Madison University JMU Scholarly Commons Masters Theses The Graduate School Spring 2016 The urban heat island effect in Malta and the adequacy of green roofs in its mitigation Jonathan Scicluna James Madison University Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019 Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Studies Commons, Other Earth Sciences Commons, and the Sustainability Commons Recommended Citation Scicluna, Jonathan, "The urban heat island effect in Malta and the adequacy of green roofs in its mitigation" (2016). Masters Theses. 467. https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/master201019/467 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the The Graduate School at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IN MALTA AND THE ADEQUACY OF GREEN ROOFS IN ITS MITIGATION Jonathan Scicluna A dissertation submitted to the UNIVERSITY OF MALTA and JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Resources Management/ Master of Science in Integrated Science and Technology 2016 To my Family ii Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisors Mr Antoine Gatt and Dr Wayne S. Teel as well as to Prof Louis F. Cassar. I would also like to thank the course coordinators Dr Elisabeth Conrad and Dr Maria Papadakis as well as the administrative staff at the Valletta Campus especially Mr Mario Cassar and Ms Mersia Mackay Zammit. My gratitude also goes to Dr Charles Galdies who suggested final improvements to this work and to Mr Joseph Schiavone who provided information about the meteorological stations in Malta. Finally, I wish to thank my family for their support especially my father who also accompanied me during my data collection, as well as my mother, who even though left this world before I could complete this work, has dedicated her life to our family and to making me a better person. iii “…but the temperature of the city is not to be considered as that of the climate; it partakes too much of an artificial warmth, induced by its structure, by a crowded population, and the consumption of great quantities of fuel in fires…” ‘The Climate of London’, Luke Howard, 1818 iv Table of Contents Dedication ..................................................................................................................................ii Acknowledgements................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................ ix List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... xiii List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................xiv Abstract .................................................................................................................................... xv 1 Intrroduction 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Preamble .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Malta .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.1.3 The Urban Heat Island ............................................................................................... 3 1.1.3.1 Classification of heat islands .......................................................................................... 5 1.1.3.2 Spatial considerations .................................................................................................... 6 1.1.3.3 UHI characteristics ......................................................................................................... 7 1.1.3.4 The importance of mitigating the UHI ........................................................................... 7 1.1.4 What are green roofs? ............................................................................................... 8 1.1.4.1 Green Roofs as a mitigating strategy ........................................................................... 11 1.1.4.2 Green roof studies in Malta ......................................................................................... 11 1.2 Rationale for the work ................................................................................................. 14 1.3 Research Question ....................................................................................................... 15 1.4 Structure of the dissertation ........................................................................................ 15 2 The Urban Heat Island 2.1 The Formation of UHIs ............................................................................................. 17 2.1.1 The inadvertent modification of the climate system ..................................................... 17 2.1.2 The source of heat .......................................................................................................... 19 2.1.3 The Surface Energy Balance (SEB) ................................................................................... 20 2.2 Urban Heat Island Analysis ...................................................................................... 38 2.2.1 UHI Strength.................................................................................................................... 38 2.2.2 Site Classification ............................................................................................................ 38 2.2.3 Collecting UHI data ......................................................................................................... 41 2.2.4 Fixed stations .................................................................................................................. 41 2.2.5 Mobile Traverses ............................................................................................................. 44 2.2.6 Remote sensing ............................................................................................................... 46 2.2.7Vertical sensing ................................................................................................................ 47 v 2.2.8 Energy balances .............................................................................................................. 48 2.2.9 Other methods: Weekday-Weekend differences ........................................................... 50 2.3 The Urban Heat Island Effect around the world ...................................................... 50 2.2.2 Equatorial wet climates .................................................................................................. 52 2.2.3 Tropical / Sub-tropical Climates ...................................................................................... 53 2.2.4 High latitude locations .................................................................................................... 56 2.2.5 The Mediterranean region .............................................................................................. 56 2.2.6 Similarities and differences of UHI in different climates ................................................ 57 3 The Case of Malta 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 59 3.2 Uncontrollable factors ................................................................................................. 60 3.2.1 Solar Radiation ......................................................................................................... 60 3.2.2 Seasonal climatic variation and anticyclonic activity ............................................... 61 3.2.3 Diurnal conditions .................................................................................................... 65 Diurnal insolation ..................................................................................................................... 65 Diurnal variation in atmospheric humidity .............................................................................. 68 Sea breezes .............................................................................................................................. 69 3.2.4 Wind ......................................................................................................................... 71 3.2.5 Cloud cover, fog and aerosols .................................................................................. 73 3.2.6 Other uncontrollable factors – Humidity and Marine influence ............................. 77 3.3 Controllable factors – Population related.................................................................... 79 3.3.1 Anthropogenic heat ................................................................................................. 79 3.3.1.1 Population density ....................................................................................................... 80 3.3.1.2 Per capita energy use ..................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Viaggiatori Della Vita JOURNEY to MALTA: a Mediterranean Well
    Viaggiatori della vita organises a JOURNEY TO MALTA: A Mediterranean well concerted lifestyle View of Valletta from Marsamxett Harbour. 1st Travel Day The tour guide (if necessary, together with the interpreter) receives the group at Malta International Airport (Luqa Airport) and accompanies it to the Hotel [first overnight stay in Malta] 2nd Travel Day The tour guide and the interpreter accompany the group to visit the main historical places of Valletta, the capital of Malta; a city guide provides background knowledge during a walk of about 1 ½ to 2 hours to the most interesting places. Leisure time and shopping tour in Valletta. [second overnight stay in Malta] Valletta Historical centre of Valletta View from the Upper Barracca Gardens to the Grand Harbour; the biggest natural harbour of Europe. View of Lower Barracca Gardens 3rd Travel Day The tour guide and the interpreter accompany the group to visit the main places worth visiting in Sliema and St. Julian's. Leisure time. [third overnight stay in Malta] Sliema, Malta. Sliema waterfront twilight St. Julian's Bay, Malta. Portomaso Tower, St. Julian's, Malta. 4th Travel Day The tour guide and the interpreter accompany the group to visit the most famous places of interest in Gozo (Victoria / Rabat, Azure Window, Fungus Rock, Blue Grotto and so forth) [fourth overnight stay in Malta] Azure Window, Gozo. Fungus Rock (the General's Rock), at Dwejra, Gozo. View from the Citadel, Victoria, capital city of Gozo. Saint Paul's Bay, Malta. 5th Travel Day Journey by coach to different localities of Malta; the tour guide and the interpreter accompany the group.
    [Show full text]
  • An Alternative Explanation of the Semiarid Urban Area Oasis Effect
    JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 116, D24113, doi:10.1029/2011JD016720, 2011 An alternative explanation of the semiarid urban area “oasis effect” M. Georgescu,1 M. Moustaoui,1 A. Mahalov,1 and J. Dudhia2 Received 12 August 2011; revised 10 October 2011; accepted 12 October 2011; published 22 December 2011. [1] This research evaluates the climatic summertime representation of the diurnal cycle of near-surface temperature using the Weather Research and Forecasting System (WRF) over the rapidly urbanizing and water-vulnerable Phoenix metropolitan area. A suite of monthly, high-resolution (2 km grid spacing) simulations are conducted during the month of July with both a contemporary landscape and a hypothetical presettlement scenario. WRF demonstrates excellent agreement in the representation of the daily to monthly diurnal cycle of near-surface temperatures, including the accurate simulation of maximum daytime temperature timing. Thermal sensitivity to anthropogenic land use and land cover change (LULCC), assessed via replacement of the modern-day landscape with natural shrubland, is small on the regional scale. The WRF-simulated characterization of the diurnal cycle, supported by previous observational analyses, illustrates two distinct and opposing impacts on the urbanized diurnal cycle of the Phoenix metro area, with evening and nighttime warming partially offset by daytime cooling. The simulated nighttime urban heat island (UHI) over this semiarid urban complex is explained by well-known mechanisms (slow release of heat from within the urban fabric stored during daytime and increased emission of longwave radiation from the urban canopy toward the surface). During daylight hours, the limited vegetation and dry semidesert region surrounding metro Phoenix warms at greater rates than the urban complex.
    [Show full text]
  • PO Box. 42, Malta International Airport, Luqa LQA 5001 T : (+356)
    Response Document to Notices of Proposed Amendment No. 2008-17A and NPA No. 2008-17B Comments Prior to an examination of the proposed amendments to Part FCL as proposed in NPA No. 2009-17B, due regard must be had to the contents of the Draft Opinion [NPA No. 2008-17A]. It is clearly understood, as declared in paragraph 2 of the Draft Opinion, that : “The European Aviation Safety Agency (the Agency) is directly involved in the rule -shaping process” in accordance with the functions set out in the Basic Regulation 1. The European Aviation Safety Agency, being an Agency of the European Union, does not have the function to enact law, however it is understood to be a duty of the Agency to present to the institution of the European Union a view of the matter being addressed which is correct and to forward proposals which are coherent with EU policy, in particular that any measures adopted are in conformity with the principle of proportionality. The aims pursued are the subject of the Basic Regulation – in a generic manner – as well as the Terms of Reference ToR FCL.001 reproduced in the Draft Opinion [NPA No. 2008-17A].These terms of reference are, inter alia : - “to establish in the form of essential requirements, high level safety objectives to be achieved by the regulations of pilot licensing” - “to require all pilots operating in the Community to hold a licence attesting compliance with common safety requirement covering their theoretical and practical knowledge, as well as they physical fitness” Whereas AOPA Malta agrees with the adoption of a harmonized approach to regulation on a European level to address the issue of pilot licensing in accordance with the terms of reference, it emphasis that all such regulation must conform with the principle of proportionality.
    [Show full text]
  • Closure Closing Branch* Accounts Nearest Branches Automated Services in the Vicinity Date Transferred to 15-Feb Msida Gωira G
    Closure Closing Branch* Accounts Nearest Branches Automated services in the vicinity Date transferred to 15-Feb Msida GΩira GΩira Óamrun branch Óamrun Msida (same premises) Msida (Junior College) GΩira branch 15-Feb Sta Venera B'Kara B'Kara Qormi Head office Óamrun Qormi branch Qormi Sta Venera (same premises) B'Kara branch Óamrun branch 15-Feb Naxxar Mosta Mosta Naxxar (same premises) San Ìwann Mosta branch B'Kara San Ìwann branch 15-Feb Attard Balzan Balzan Attard (same premises) Rabat Balzan branch Rabat branch Mdina 15-Feb Nadur Agency* N/A Rabat Gozo Nadur Agency (same premises) - to be installed Xag˙ra Agency Rabat branch 15-Feb Xag˙ra Agency* N/A Rabat Gozo Xag˙ra Agency (same premises) Nadur agency - to be installed Rabat branch 15-Mar Sliema, Manwel Sliema High Street Sliema High Street Sliema, Manwel Dimech Street Dimech Street GΩira Sliema High Street Branch GΩira branch The Point The Plaza Carlton Hotel 15-Mar Luqa Paola Paola Luqa (same premises) Ûejtun Paola branch Ûurrieq MCAST - Corradino Ûejtun Branch Ûurrieq Branch MIA arrivals lounge Tarxien Gudja outskirts - to be installed 30-Jun Campus ** San Ìwann ÌΩira Campus (same premises) San Ìwann Msida ex-branch Msida (Junior College) GΩira branch Mater Dei * These branches will offer a reduced service by appointment ** This branch will offer a reduced service Data tal- Ferg˙a li ser Kontijiet ser ji©u L-eqreb ferg˙at Servizzi awtomatizzati g˙eluq ting˙alaq* trasferiti lejn fil-qrib 15-Frar L-Imsida Il-GΩira Il-GΩira Ferg˙a tal-Óamrun Il-Óamrun L-Imsida (fl-istess post) L-Imsida
    [Show full text]
  • Name of Authority Name of Regulated Professions Name of Contact Person Telephone Number Email Address URL Link Location Address
    Name of Authority Name of Regulated Professions Name of Contact Person Telephone Number Email Address URL Link Location Address [email protected], Accountancy Board Accountant, Auditor Martin Spiteri +356 2599 8456 https://accountancyboard.gov.mt/ South Street, VLT 2000 Valletta [email protected] https://kamratalperiti.org/profession/how-to-obtain- Blk B, Triq Francesco Buonamici, Board of Architects' Warrant Architects (Acquired rights), Architect Ryan Sciberras +356 2292 7444 [email protected] the-warrant-of-perit/ Beltissebh, Floriana Board of the Psychotherapy Board of the Psychotherapy Registered Psychotherapist Charles Cassar +356 7949 4456 [email protected] https://family.gov.mt/ppb/Pages/default.aspx Profession, Republic Street, Profession Valletta 173, Triq San Kristofru, Board of Warrant of Restorers Conservator, Restorer Michael Mifsud +356 2395 0000 [email protected] https://www.cultureheritage.gov.mt Valletta, VLT2000, Malta Building Regulation Office Horn Works Ditch Building Regulation Office Energy Performance of Building Assessor Michael Ferry +356 2292 7595 [email protected] https://bca.org.mt/ Emvin Cremona Street Floriana FRN 1280 Chamber of Advocates and Justice Courts of Justice, Second Floor, Lawyer, Solicitor Mark Said +356 2124 8601 [email protected] https://www.avukati.org/ Department Republic Street, Valletta Private Guard, Private Specialized Guard (Not Police General Head Quarters, Driving), Private Specialized Guard (Driving), Police Licences Office Commissioner of Police
    [Show full text]
  • To Access the List of Registered Aircraft As on 2Nd August
    Current Aircraft Registry List as at 8/2/2021 CofR Reg MTOM TC Holder Aircraft Description Pax No Operator MSN Classification No Mark /kg Cherokee 160 Ltd. 24, Id-Dwejra, De La Cruz Avenue, 1 41 ABW Piper Aircraft Inc. Piper PA-28-160 998 4 28-586 Aeroplane (land) Qormi QRM 2456, Malta Malta School of Flying Company Ltd. Aurora, 18, Triq Santa Marija, Luqa, 2 62 ACL Textron Aviation Inc. Cessna 172M 1043 4 17260955 Aeroplane (land) LQA 1643, Malta Airbus Financial Services Limited 6, George's Dock, 5th Floor, IFSC, 3 1584 ACX Airbus S.A.S. A340-313 275000 544 Aeroplane (land) Dublin 1, D01 K5C7,, Ireland Airbus Financial Services Limited 6, George's Dock, 5th Floor, IFSC, 4 1583 ACY Airbus S.A.S. A340-313 275000 582 Aeroplane (land) Dublin 1, D01 K5C7,, Ireland Air X Charter Limited SmartCity Malta, Building SCM 01, 5 1589 ACZ Airbus S.A.S. A340-313 275000 4th Floor, Units 401 403, SCM 1001, 590 Aeroplane (land) Ricasoli, Kalkara, Malta Nazzareno Psaila 40, Triq Is-Sejjieh, Naxxar, NXR1930, 001-PFA262- 6 105 ADX Reno Psaila RP-KESTREL 703 1+1 Microlight Malta 12665 European Pilot Academy Ltd. Falcon Alliance Building, Security 7 107 AEB Piper Aircraft Inc. Piper PA-34-200T 1999 6 Gate 1, Malta International Airport, 34-7870066 Aeroplane (land) Luqa LQA 4000, Malta Malta Air Travel Ltd. dba 'Malta MedAir' Camilleri Preziosi, Level 3, Valletta 8 134 AEO Airbus S.A.S. A320-214 75500 168+10 2768 Aeroplane (land) Building, South Street, Valletta VLT 1103, Malta Air Malta p.l.c.
    [Show full text]
  • Rise and Fall of the Malta Railway After
    40 I FEBRUARY 28, 2021 THE SUNDAY TIMES OF MALTA THE SUNDAY TIMES OF MALTA FEBRUARY 28, 2021 I 41 LIFEANDWELLBEING HISTORY Map of the route of It hap~ened in February the Malta Railway /Via/ta Rise and fall Of the VALLETTA Malta Railway after • • • Employees of the Malta Railway pose for a group photograph at its ~naugurat1ons f'famrun Station in 1924. Bombes) on to Hamrun Sta­ the Attard-Mdina road through Because of debts, calculated to have been in the region of THE MALTA RAILWAY CO. LTD. .in 1883' and 1892 tion. At Hamrun, there was a a 25-yard-long tunnel and then double track w.ith two plat­ up the final steep climb to £80,000, the line closed down LOCOMOTIVES - SOME TECHNICAL DATA servic.e in Valletta. Plans were The Malta Railways Co. Ltd in­ forms and side lines leading to Rabat which was the last termi­ on Tuesday, April 1, 1890, but JOSEPH F. submitted by J. Scott Tucker in augurated its service at 3pm on the workshops which, by 1900, nus till 1900. In that year, the government reopened it on GRIMA 1870, Major Hutchinson in Wednesday, February 28, 1883, were capable of major mainte­ line was extended via a half­ Thursday, February 25, 1892. No. Type CyUnders Onches) Builder Worlm No. Data 1873, Architect Edward Rosen­ amid great enthusiasm. That af­ nance and engineering work. mile tunnel beneath Mdina to During the closure period, 1. 0-6-0T, 10Yz x 18, Manning Wardle 842, 1882 Retired casual bush in 1873 and George Fer­ ternoon, the guests were taken Formerly, repairs and renova­ the Museum Station just below works on buildings were car­ 2.
    [Show full text]
  • The Oasis Effect and Summer Temperature Rise in Arid Regions
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN The oasis effect and summer temperature rise in arid regions - case study in Tarim Basin Received: 30 June 2016 Xingming Hao, Weihong Li & Haijun Deng Accepted: 29 September 2016 This study revealed the influence of the oasis effect on summer temperatures based on MODIS Land Published: 14 October 2016 Surface Temperature (LST) and meteorological data. The results showed that the oasis effect occurs primarily in the summer. For a single oasis, the maximum oasis cold island intensity based on LST (OCILST) was 3.82 °C and the minimum value was 2.32 °C. In terms of the annual change in OCILST, the mean value of all oases ranged from 2.47 °C to 3.56 °C from 2001 to 2013. Net radiation (Rn) can be used as a key predictor of OCILST and OCItemperature (OCI based on air temperature). On this basis, we reconstructed a long time series (1961–2014) of OCItemperature and Tbase(air temperature without the disturbance of oasis effect). Our results indicated that the reason for the increase in the observed temperatures was the significant decrease in theOCI temperature over the past 50 years. In arid regions, the data recorded in weather stations not only underestimated the mean temperature of the entire study area but also overestimated the increasing trend of the temperature. These discrepancies are due to the limitations in the spatial distribution of weather stations and the disturbance caused by the oasis effect. An oasis is a type of medium-sized or small-sized non-zonal landscape that occurs in dry climates and is sup- ported by natural or artificial rivers in deserts1,2.
    [Show full text]
  • Gazzetta Tal-Gvern Ta' Malta
    Nru./No. 20,582 Prezz/Price €2.70 Gazzetta tal-Gvern ta’ Malta The Malta Government Gazette L-Erbgħa, 3 ta’ Marzu, 2021 Pubblikata b’Awtorità Wednesday, 3rd March, 2021 Published by Authority SOMMARJU — SUMMARY Avviżi tal-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar ....................................................................................... 1869 - 1924 Planning Authority Notices .............................................................................................. 1869 - 1924 It-3 ta’ Marzu, 2021 1869 PROĊESS SĦIĦ FULL PROCESS Applikazzjonijiet għal Żvilupp Sħiħ Full Development Applications Din hija lista sħiħa ta’ applikazzjonijiet li waslu għand This is a list of complete applications received by the l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar. L-applikazzjonijiet huma mqassmin Planning Authority. The applications are set out by locality. bil-lokalità. Rappreżentazzjonijiet fuq dawn l-applikazzjonijiet Any representations on these applications should be sent in għandhom isiru bil-miktub u jintbagħtu fl-uffiċini tal-Awtorità writing and received at the Planning Authority offices or tal-Ippjanar jew fl-indirizz elettroniku ([email protected]. through e-mail address ([email protected]) within mt) fil-perjodu ta’ żmien speċifikat hawn taħt, u għandu the period specified below, quoting the reference number. jiġi kkwotat in-numru ta’ referenza. Rappreżentazzjonijiet Representations may also be submitted anonymously. jistgħu jkunu sottomessi anonimament. Is-sottomissjonijiet kollha lill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar, All submissions to the Planning Authority,
    [Show full text]
  • The Urban Heat Island Effect and Sustainability Science: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions 275
    Chapter 14 The Urban Heat Island Effect and Sustainability Science: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions Darren Ruddell, Anthony Brazel, Winston Chow, Ariane Middel Introduction As Chapter 3 described, urbanization began approximately 10,000 years ago Urbanization The process when people first started organizing into small permanent settlements. whereby native landscapes While people initially used local and organic materials to meet residential are converted to urban land and community needs, advances in science, technology, and transportation uses, such as commercial systems support urban centers that rely on distant resources to produce and residential development. engineered surfaces and synthetic materi- als. This process of urbanization, Urbanization is also defined which manifests in both population and spatial extent, has increased over as rural migration to urban the course of human history. For instance, according to the 2014 US Census, centers. the global population has rapidly increased from 1 billion people in 1804 to 7.1 billion in 2014. During the same period, the global population living in urban centers grew from 3% to over 52% (US Census, 2014). In 1950, there were 86 cities in the world with a population of more than 1 million. This number has grown to 512 cities in 2016 with a projected 662 cities by 2030 (UN, 2016). Megacities (urban agglomerations with populations greater than 10 million) have also become commonplace throughout the world. In Megacities Urban 2016, the UN determined that there are 31 megacities globally and agglomerations, including estimate that this number will increase to 41 by 2030. The highest rates of all of the contiguous urban urbanization and most megacities are in the developing world, area, or built-up area.
    [Show full text]
  • Malta & Gozo Directions
    DIRECTIONS Malta & Gozo Up-to-date DIRECTIONS Inspired IDEAS User-friendly MAPS A ROUGH GUIDES SERIES Malta & Gozo DIRECTIONS WRITTEN AND RESEARCHED BY Victor Paul Borg NEW YORK • LONDON • DELHI www.roughguides.com 2 Tips for reading this e-book Your e-book Reader has many options for viewing and navigating through an e-book. Explore the dropdown menus and toolbar at the top and the status bar at the bottom of the display window to familiarize yourself with these. The following guidelines are provided to assist users who are not familiar with PDF files. For a complete user guide, see the Help menu of your Reader. • You can read the pages in this e-book one at a time, or as two pages facing each other, as in a regular book. To select how you’d like to view the pages, click on the View menu on the top panel and choose the Single Page, Continuous, Facing or Continuous – Facing option. • You can scroll through the pages or use the arrows at the top or bottom of the display window to turn pages. You can also type a page number into the status bar at the bottom and be taken directly there. Or else use the arrows or the PageUp and PageDown keys on your keyboard. • You can view thumbnail images of all the pages by clicking on the Thumbnail tab on the left. Clicking on the thumbnail of a particular page will take you there. • You can use the Zoom In and Zoom Out tools (magnifying glass) to magnify or reduce the print size: click on the tool, then enclose what you want to magnify or reduce in a rectangle.
    [Show full text]
  • Sliema, St Julian's & Paceville
    Sliema, St Julian’s & Paceville Why Go? Sights ..............................61 Malta’s cool crowd flocks to this area to promenade, eat, Activities .........................63 drink, shop and party. This is also where many tourists base Eating .............................63 themselves: despite the lack of interesting things to see or Drinking ..........................65 any beach to speak of, these three districts form a buzzing base and are well connected by public transport. Entertainment ................ 67 St Julian’s was once a pretty fishing village, but its origi- Shopping ........................ 67 nal charms have been all but obscured by the five-star hotels and apartment complexes rising along the rocky shoreline. It adjoins the small youth-oriented nightlife en- clave of Paceville, which only comes to life after dark; you Best Places to Eat won’t spot many punters aged over 25 here. This is also where many of Malta’s English-language schools are located. » Assaggi (p 64 ) Sliema has a more exclusive feel than St Julian’s, and has » Mint (p 63 ) long been associated with the Maltese upper classes. The » Zest (p 64 ) elegant backstreets remain largely residential and the busy » Kitchen (p 64 ) waterfront, while built-up, is dotted by some sophisticated eateries. Best Places to When to Go Stay Come in May, June, September and October if you’re look- » Hotel Juliani (p 133 ) ing for lower prices, guaranteed sunshine and few crowds. » Hotel Valentina (p 133 ) However, if you’re after a party atmosphere and lots of action, then head here during the peak summer months of » Palace Hotel (p 132 ) July and August, when the weather will be at its sultriest » Waterfront Hotel (p 132 ) and the nightlife at its most frenetic.
    [Show full text]