Tigné Point and Manoel Island are located on the north-eastern coast of Malta, approximately one kilometre north and north-west of Valletta respectively. Both can be found along the Sliema Creek. Sliema is a relatively new town and is considered to be the most important commercial centre after Valletta.

Sliema offers a choice of retail outlets, bars and restaurants, apart from rocky beaches and a splendid long promenade along its renowned sea front leading to St Julian's and Paceville - the heart of nightlife in Malta.

Tigné Point
Tigné Point Commands spectacular views of Sliema Creek, Manoel Island and Valletta, Malta's capital city built by the Knights of St John, and is of great historical value. This area came to be known as Dragut Point in 1565, when the great Mohammedan Dragut Al Rais set batteries on its promontories, and in so doing isolated Fort St Elmo from vital reinforcements during the Great Seige.

In 1792, the Order of St John decided to fortify this point. A new fort was designed by the Order's French engineer Tousaud, constructed in 1793 by Maltese engineer Antonio Cachia, and named in honour of Bailiff Tigné who contributed towards its cost. This was the last important military building erected by the Knights before their capitulation to the French led by Napoleon in 1798.

During the British period (1800-1964), the peninsula came to be known as Tigné Point. Besides Fort Tigné, it included a Regimental Institute with a distinctive Clock Tower, the Sergeant's Mess, St Luke's Garrison Church, the School Building, various Barracks Blocks, and various sports facilities.

Tigné Point stretches from the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza in the west to the tip of the peninsula and forms part of Sliema, one of Malta's top residential, commercial and entertainment districts.

Manoel Island
A small bridge at the Sliema Strand leads to Manoel Island, situated in the innermost part of Sliema Creek, and covers an area of about 30.5 hectares.

The Island's main feature is Fort Manoel, an 18th century fortification constructed by the Knights of St John. According to Quentin Hughes, Don Carlos de Grunenberg, a military engineer to the King of Spain in Sicily, came to Malta in 1681 and reported on the state of its fortifications.

He first proposed a fort on Manoel Island, but because of lack of funds, no definite steps were undertaken until Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena instructed two French engineers, de Tigné (not to be confused with another Frenchmen, Chevalier Tigné who contributed to the building of Fort Tigné in the latter half of the 18th century) and de Mondion, to carry out the work.

At the time, the whole fort cost only 2,500 sterling including both building material and labour. The fort was named in honour of the Grand Master and with its garrison of 500 men it was deemed virtually impregnable.

Fort Manoel is currently in an advanced stage of restoration. Approximately €9,000 are being spent on restoring it to its original state, in accordance with Midi’s lease obligations.

The island also housed an isolation hospital called Lazzaretto. Built in 1643, Lazzaretto was used as a quarantine centre in time of epidemics. Today Lazzaretto is in disuse and is in an advanced state of dilapidation, but will be restored together with Fort Manoel as part of the restoration process undertaken by MIDI p.l.c. pending permits.

Manoel Island has an established yacht centre including a yacht repair facility considered to be one of the best in the Mediterranean. A 400-berth yacht marina is part of Manoel Island's re-development.