Mellieħa was once an isolated 15th century hamlet perched on the ridge overlooking Ghadira Bay. It was abandoned for a couple of centuries because of its vulnerability to pirate and Saracen attack. Re-inhabited in the early 18th century, it has since developed into a flourishing town though it retains a quaint historic centre with narrow streets and stepped alleys. From the terrace of the Parish Church, there is a panoramic view over Mellieħa Bay and the surrounding countryside. Beneath the church is the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin, a national shrine. A fresco of the Madonna and Child is said to have been painted by St Luke. This legend has made the troglodyte chapel into a popular place of pilgrimage. The walls are lined with ex-voto offerings and paintings - a testimony to the devotion of the people. Mellieħa today is a modern town noted for its large private villas and houses which have been built on land overlooking the bay. While the town has developed into a resort, it has managed to retain some of its rural character.

The locality of Mellieha, including the Hamlet of Manikata, have recently been awarded the title of European Destination of Excellence for the promotion of Tourism and Protected Areas, which project was co-financed by the European Commission.

‘Mellieha, not just a summer resort but a destination for all seasons!’