I travelled to Reggio di Calabria recently. Prior to departure I met a very well-known Sliema resident who described Reggio as being a “dump”.

Having a few hours to spare, I drove into downtown Reggio to have a look. It wasn’t Cannes or Lisbon, but I was surprised to see a wonderfully kept promenade with a clean, attractive, paved surface and well pruned trees stretching a couple of kilometres. Seasonal, very attractive and well placed beach concessions on the beach created a colourful and inviting landscape. No “eye sore” concrete structures or uninviting trucks peddling ice-creams, newspapers or refreshments. The roads were wide with no obtrusive pot holes and parking was efficiently organised.

Mull over what a resident of Reggio would think of our tourism capital, Sliema?

H. von Brockdorff

SLIEMA