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Floriana

Coordinates: 35°53′36″N 14°30′21″E / 35.89333°N 14.50583°E / 35.89333; 14.50583
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Floriana
Il-Furjana/Il-Floriana
Borgo Vilhena
Local council
From top: Malta Memorial, St. Publius Parish Church, Porte des Bombes, Christ the King Monument, Valletta Waterfront
From top: Malta Memorial, St. Publius Parish Church, Porte des Bombes, Christ the King Monument, Valletta Waterfront
Flag of Floriana
Flag
Coat of arms of Floriana
Coat of arms
Etymology: Pietro Paolo Floriani
Motto: 
Flores mulcent aurae educat imber
Coordinates: 35°53′36″N 14°30′21″E / 35.89333°N 14.50583°E / 35.89333; 14.50583
Country Malta
RegionSouth Eastern Region
DistrictSouthern Harbour District
Established1724
Founded byAntónio Manoel de Vilhena
BordersĦamrun, Marsa, Pietà, Valletta
Government
 • MayorDavina Sammut Hili (PL)
Area
 • Total0.94 km2 (0.36 sq mi)
Elevation
38 m (125 ft)
Population
 (March 2014)
 • Total2,205
 • Density2,300/km2 (6,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Furjaniż (m), Furjaniża (f), Furjaniżi (pl)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
FRN
Dialing code356
ISO 3166 codeMT-09
Patron saintSt. Publius
Day of festa22 January
Websitewww.florianalocalcouncil.com

Floriana (Template:Lang-mt), also known by its title Borgo Vilhena, is a fortified town in the South Eastern Region area of Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. It has a population of 2,205 as of March 2014.[1] Floriana is the birthplace of many famous Maltese, amongst which the composer of the national anthem, 'L-Innu Malti', Robert Samut; former Bishop of Malta Dun Mauro Caruana, the poet Oliver Friggieri, the writer and politician Herbert Ganado and Swedish Idol winner Kevin Borg.

Etymology

Floriana is named after Pietro Paolo Floriani, an Italian military engineer who designed the Floriana Lines, the line of fortifications surrounding the town.[2] In Maltese, the town is called Il-Floriana by the local council.[3] However, it is popularly known as Il-Furjana,[4] and the latter is regarded as the official name by the National Council for the Maltese Language.[5] Government sources use both variants.[1][6]

The town's original official name was Borgo Vilhena (or Subborgo Vilhena) after Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena,[2] but the name fell out of use in favour of Floriana or Furjana.[4] The name Borgo Vilhena is now used as a title, just like Valletta has the title Città Umilissima.

History

The origins of Floriana go back to 1636, when construction of the Floriana Lines commenced. The line of fortifications was built outside the fortifications of Valletta as an outer defensive line for the capital city. The lines were named after Pietro Paolo Floriani, the Italian military engineer who had designed them. The fortifications were partially defensible by 1640,[7] but construction and modifications continued throughout the 17th and 18th century, being fully completed in the 1720s.[8]

The area between the Floriana Lines and the Valletta Land Front began to be built up in 1724, when Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena founded the suburb Borgo Vilhena.[9]

Sports

The Assoċjazzjoni Sport Floriana, or Floriana Sports Association, sponsors a number of sports in the town, as well as hosting the Floriana Supporters Club. Sporting clubs include:

The Vikings Sailing Club is also located in Floriana, though it is not associated with the Sports Association.

Patron saint

Saint Publius is one of the patron saints of Malta and also the patron saint of Floriana. The Archipresbyteral Church of Floriana is dedicated to Saint Publius, traditionally acclaimed as the first Bishop of Malta. According to tradition, Publius received the Apostle Paul during his shipwreck on the island as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles 28:1–10.

Being Maltese makes St. Publius the first Maltese saint and this explains the devotion which St. Publius enjoys around Malta and Gozo. One finds various chapels and statues scattered around the Maltese Islands which date back to hundreds of years.

Pope John Paul II spoke at St. Publius Square during his two visits to Malta, and on his second visit held the beatification ceremony there for three Maltese:

Main sights

Argotti Botanic Gardens

Village Core

Independence Monument and entrance to the Mall Gardens
  • Pjazza Emm. S. Tonna (E.S. Tonna Square)
  • Pjazza San Kalċidonju (St. Calcidonio Square)
  • Triq il-Konservatorju (Conservatory Street)
  • Triq il-Mall (Maglio Street)
  • Triq il-Miratur (Gunlayer Street)
  • Triq is-Suq (Market Street)
  • Triq l-Argotti (Argotti Street)
  • Triq l-Iljun (Lion Street)
  • Triq l-Isqof M. Caruana (Bishop M. Caruana Street)
  • Triq San Publju (St. Publius Street)
  • Triq San Tumas (St. Thomas Street)
  • Triq Sarria (Sarria Street)
  • Trejqet il-Fosos

Government

Former flag of Floriana, in use 1993–2006
Former coat of arms of Floriana, in use 1993–2006

Floriana is a leading administrative centre, hosting the Ministry and Dept of Education, the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs, Police Headquarters and the Public Works Dept, The Licensing and Testing Office, and Land Transport Directorate of Transport Malta, as well as other financial and commercial companies spread around the former Colonial Administrative Area of Belt-is-Sebħ. The National Audit Office along with the Department of Contracts and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, are located in two ravelins, Notre Dame and St. Francis, respectively.

The Floriana Local Council was established in 1993 along with Malta's other local councils to administer the town. It is located at Emmanuel S. Tonna Square. The following people have served as mayor since the post was created in 1994:

  • Publio Agius (1994–98)
  • Nigel Holland (1998–2004)
  • John Mary Brincat (2004)
  • Publio Agius (2004–07)
  • Nigel Holland (2007–12)
  • Davina Sammut (2012–12)
  • Nigel Holland (2012–15)
  • Davina Sammut Hili (2015–present)

Current Councillors that are serving from 2015–19:

  • Vince Borg (PL)
  • James Aaron Ellul (PN)
  • Albert de Marco (PL)
  • Matthew Paris (PN)

Lodging and entertainment

Floriana is home to the Hotel Phoenicia, one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels on Malta, as well as the 5 star luxury Hotel; and the Grand Hotel Excelsior.

The annual Isle of MTV music festival has been held in Floriana since 2007.[11]

Music

  • Vilhena Band Club (Soċjetà Filarmonika Vilhena) was founded in 1874. The first musical director of the band was Mro. Giuseppe Borg, and the first president of the Society was Baldassare Portanier.
  • Kevin Borg a Maltese singer and Swedish Idol 2008 winner was born in the town. He moved to Arvidsjaur, Sweden in late 2007 to live with his girlfriend and was soon cast as a contestant on the Swedish Idol series.

Floriana community services

  • St. Publius Parish Church, Triq Sarria (Sarria Street)
  • Floriana Local Council, Pjazza Emanuel S. Tonna (Emanuel S. Tonna Square)
  • Floriana Police Station, Triq Sant' Anna (St. Anne Street)
  • Floriana Malta Labour Party Club, Triq Sant' Anna (St. Anne Street)
  • Floriana Partit Nazzjonalista Club, Pjazza Sant' Anna (St. Anne Square)
  • Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, Sqaq Ħarper (Harper Lane)
  • Floriana Health Centre, Triq Franġisk Saver Fenech (Frances Xavier Fenech Street)
  • Central Public Library, Triq Joseph J. Mangion (J.J. Mangion Street)

Zones in Floriana

  • Balzunetta Named after Barcelonnette in Spain, hence translated to " Balzunetta"
  • Belt il-Ħażna, limits of Blata l-Bajda
  • Belt-is-Sebħ
  • Crown Works, limits of Blata l-Bajda
  • Fuq il-Biskuttin
  • Foss Horns
  • Foss Notre Dame
  • Ġnien tal-Milorda
  • Hay Wharf (Xatt it-Tiben)
  • Il-Fosos
  • Il-Mall
  • Independence Arena (Xagħra tal-Furjana)
  • Jubilee Grove
  • Sa Maison
  • Sarria
  • Tal-Bombi
  • Valletta Waterfront/Pinto Wharf (Xatt ta' Pinto)
  • Xatt il-Kanuni

References

  1. ^ a b "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b Armstrong, Gary; Mitchell, Jon P. (2008). Global and Local Football: Politics and Europeanization on the Fringes of the EU. Routledge. p. 44. ISBN 9781134269198.
  3. ^ "Floriana". lc.gov.mt (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 16 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b Cassar Pullicino, Joseph (October–December 1949). "The Order of St. John in Maltese folk-memory" (PDF). Scientia. 15 (4): 163. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Il-lokalitajiet Maltin" (PDF). National Council for the Maltese Language (in Maltese). p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Kumitat għar-Rijabilitazzjoni tal-Belt Valletta u l-Floriana". Government of Malta (in Maltese). Archived from the original on 16 July 2016.
  7. ^ Adami, Giuseppe (1997). "FLORIANI, Pietro Paolo". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). 48. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  8. ^ Spiteri, Stephen C. (2004–2007). "The Development of the Bastion of Provence, Floriana Lines" (PDF). Arx – Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (1–4): 24–32. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2015.
  9. ^ Rix, Juliet (2013). Malta and Gozo. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 148. ISBN 9781841624525.
  10. ^ Morana, Martin (2011). Bejn Kliem u Storja (in Maltese). Malta: Books Distributors Limited. ISBN 978-99957-0137-6. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Isle of MTV Malta Special". visitMALTA.com. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
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