IL-Merill Aparthotel is centrally, though quietly located in the heart of Sliema, Malta?s leading metropolitan area. The property is ideally positioned, within walking distance of the Strand Sliema, with a beautiful rocky beach only five minutes away. There are also direct links with Malta?s capital city, Valletta, the old capital Mdina, and the bustling St. Julians ? Paceville, via Sliema?s bus terminus. Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julians constitutes Malta's main coastal resort. 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 popular hotels. Tower Road is its 5Km promenade, full of shops, restaurants, pubs, banks, supermarkets, Internet cafés, and day cruise boats. The road continues north to St. Julians and Paceville and southward towards the Strand Gzira, Ta' Xbiex , Msida and Valletta. Sliema was once a fishing town on the peninsula, across the Grand Harbour from Valletta. The areas' elegant villas and town houses line the quiet, inland streets. The Sliema promontory offers on one side stunning views across to Valletta, and on the other open sea views. The promenade, which runs for several kilometres from Gzira just south of Sliema to St Julian's, is ideal for walkers and joggers. There are plenty of seats along the promenade, and on summer evenings the seafront becomes a sociable meeting place for locals.