Floriana

Last updated

Floriana
Il-Floriana/Floriana
Borgo Vilhena
Floriana montage.jpg
Flag of Floriana.svg
Arma kunsill lokali - 10.07.20 TransBG.png
Etymology: Pietro Paolo Floriani
Motto: 
Flores mulcent aurae educat imber
Floriana in Malta.svg
Coordinates: 35°53′36″N14°30′21″E / 35.89333°N 14.50583°E / 35.89333; 14.50583
Country Flag of Malta.svg  Malta
Region Port Region
District Southern Harbour District
Established1724
Founded by António Manoel de Vilhena
Borders Ħamrun, Marsa, Pietà, Valletta
Government
   Mayor Vincent Borg (PL)
Area
  Total0.94 km2 (0.36 sq mi)
Elevation
38 m (125 ft)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)
  Total2,032
  Density2,200/km2 (5,600/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Furjaniż (m), Furjaniża (f), Furjaniżi (pl)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
FRN
Dialing code 356
ISO 3166 code MT-09
Patron saint St. Publius
Day of festa 22 January
Website www.florianalocalcouncil.com

Floriana (Maltese : Il-Furjana or Il-Floriana), also known by its title Borgo Vilhena, is a fortified town in the Port 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 poets Oliver Friggieri and Maria Grech Ganado, the writer and politician Herbert Ganado and Swedish Idol winner Kevin Borg.

Contents

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

St.Anne Square in Floriana, ca. 1870 St Anne Square in Floriana in 1870.jpg
St.Anne Square in Floriana, ca. 1870
Floriana parade ground, June 1878 Floriana parade ground, June 1878.jpg
Floriana parade ground, June 1878
Panorama of Floriana by Richard Ellis, ca. 1900 Richard Ellis, panorama of Floriana.jpg
Panorama of Floriana by Richard Ellis, ca. 1900

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]

The New Suburb 1700-1800

The new suburb, in 1746, consisted of twenty residen- tial blocks, which were arranged on both sides of St. Anne's Street and also of the church of St. Publius which was to the north of the residen- tial area. By the mid-eighteenth century the suburb had un- dergone some expansion, with Montgomery House built in 1730 as a country house for the Grandmaster of the time. Also during this time, under the orders of the Grandmaster, there were two Welfare Institu- tions built: one was the Ospizio (1732) and the other was the Conservatorio (1734). The Argotti gardens were also laid out (1741) and the trend of Religious buildings located in Floriana continued with the building of the Chapel of St. Calcedonius, dedicated in 1743, which became part of the new Seminary in 1751, (Tonna, 1979). Four new residential blocks were also laid out around the Seminary soon after.

At this time, the Knights were still in control of Malta and it was under their supervision that Floriana developed. The new gardens and buildings made Floriana a spacious and attractive suburb and a welcome contrast to the dense buildings and population of Valletta.

In 1806, 25 soldiers who had participated in the Froberg mutiny were executed at the Floriana parade ground.

Floriana in the time of the British

The British developed Floriana as a garrison town and during the nineteenth century they built several barracks within it and took over large buildings for military use. It was during this period that the Lintorn Barracks, Casemate Barracks and St. Francis Barracks were built. In this period, that is at around 1857, a school was built and there was also the development of port facilities along the wharfs on both sides of the peninsula.

In the early twentieth century, several gardens were laid out. These were the Rundle (1915), the Kalkara Gardens (1927), Luigi Preziosi (1930) and King George the Fifth. The playing fields and the hospital were also built.

Floriana

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 Maltese folklore, Publius supposedly lived in Malta and at one point received the Apostle Paul after the shipwreck in 60 A.D. (Acts of the Apostles 28:1–10).

Publius is considered as the first Maltese saint and thus the devotion he enjoys among locals.

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

Main sights

Argotti Botanic Gardens Malta - Floriana - Triq Vincenzo Bugeja - Argotti Botanic Gardens 15 ies.jpg
Argotti Botanic Gardens

Village Core

Independence Monument and entrance to the Mall Gardens Denkmal an die Unabhangigkeit Maltas in Valletta.jpg
Independence Monument and entrance to the Mall Gardens

Government

Former flag of Floriana, in use 1993-2006 Flag of Floriana (1993-2006).svg
Former flag of Floriana, in use 1993–2006
Former coat of arms of Floriana, in use 1993-2006 Floriana coa.svg
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:

Current Councillors that are serving from 2015–19:

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.

Today it holds a huge number of boutique hotels.

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

Maltese Carnival

Floriana is the scene of the Maltese Carnival, held in St. Anne's Street in February leading up to Lent.

Climate

Floriana features a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Floriana experiences a lack of precipitation during the summer months and heavier precipitation during the winter months. Winter temperatures are moderated by the city’s proximity to the sea. As a result, Floriana enjoys mild winters, however windy in some areas. The official climate recording station in Malta is at Luqa Airport, which is a few miles inland from Floriana. Average high temperatures range from around 16 °C (61 °F) in January to about 32 °C (90 °F) in August, while average low temperatures range from around 10 °C (50 °F) in January to 23 °C (73 °F) in August. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Csa" (Mediterranean Climate).

Climate data for Luqa, Malta 1981-2010 (Records 1947-2010)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)22.2
(72.0)
26.7
(80.1)
33.5
(92.3)
30.7
(87.3)
35.3
(95.5)
40.1
(104.2)
42.7
(108.9)
43.8
(110.8)
37.4
(99.3)
34.5
(94.1)
28.2
(82.8)
24.3
(75.7)
43.8
(110.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)15.6
(60.1)
15.6
(60.1)
17.3
(63.1)
19.8
(67.6)
24.1
(75.4)
28.6
(83.5)
31.5
(88.7)
31.8
(89.2)
28.5
(83.3)
25.0
(77.0)
20.7
(69.3)
17.1
(62.8)
23.0
(73.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)12.8
(55.0)
12.5
(54.5)
13.9
(57.0)
16.1
(61.0)
19.8
(67.6)
23.9
(75.0)
26.6
(79.9)
27.2
(81.0)
24.7
(76.5)
21.5
(70.7)
17.7
(63.9)
14.4
(57.9)
19.3
(66.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)9.9
(49.8)
9.4
(48.9)
10.6
(51.1)
12.4
(54.3)
15.4
(59.7)
19.1
(66.4)
21.7
(71.1)
22.6
(72.7)
20.8
(69.4)
18.1
(64.6)
14.6
(58.3)
11.6
(52.9)
15.5
(59.9)
Record low °C (°F)1.4
(34.5)
1.7
(35.1)
2.2
(36.0)
4.4
(39.9)
8.0
(46.4)
12.6
(54.7)
15.5
(59.9)
15.9
(60.6)
13.2
(55.8)
8.0
(46.4)
5.0
(41.0)
3.6
(38.5)
1.4
(34.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches)98.5
(3.88)
60.1
(2.37)
44.2
(1.74)
20.7
(0.81)
16.0
(0.63)
4.6
(0.18)
0.3
(0.01)
12.8
(0.50)
58.6
(2.31)
82.9
(3.26)
92.3
(3.63)
109.2
(4.30)
600.2
(23.62)
Average relative humidity (%)79797977747169737778777976
Mean monthly sunshine hours 176.7194.3235.6261.0310.0351.0384.4362.7282.0220.1189.0164.33,131.1
Source 1: Meteo Climate (1981-2010 Data), [12] climatetemp.info (Sun Data) [13]
Source 2: NSO Malta [14]

Music

Floriana community services

Zones in Floriana

The Granaries (Pjazza San Publju - il-Fosos)

Il-Fosos in the 1920s Floriana Il-Biskuttin 1920s.jpg
Il-Fosos in the 1920s

The granaries are pits dug into the ground and covered by circular stone slabs. They were primarily used for the storage of Grain. Granaries can be found throughout Valletta and Floriana. The first granaries were built by the Knights to provide for storage within the fortifications in case of a siege. As the system of storage was reliable and efficient, the British authorities copied in all details the Knights’ granaries. The Granaries proved their worth as they continued to provide grain for the starving population during World War 2. The highest grouping of granaries (a total of 76) is found here.

‘Il-Fosos’ or The Granaries and now officially named Pjazza San Publju, is also one of the largest urban open spaces in Malta and is therefore use for mass gatherings. One important gathering was held in May 1990 during the Pope John Paul II visit to Malta. During the second Papal visit on 9 May 2001, the Pope beatified three Maltese in this square, one of whom was eventually canonised (St Gorg Preca). As Malta is a predominantly Catholic country, this is considered to be an important event in Malta’s history. A third papal visit took place on 18 April 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. The Isle of MTV summer festival is among other major events held here.

In 2018, James Aaron Ellul started a campaign to safeguard the granaries as nobody seems ready to take ownership for damaged Granaries. [15] Ellul, insisted that the appropriate care required to preserve the Granaries is not being provided, and that even government authorities were not taking ownership of the historical site and that the square is yet to receive a damage assessment over its constant use as a mass meeting place.

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

Floriana is twinned with:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valletta</span> Capital of Malta

Valletta is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2014 was 6,444. As Malta’s capital city, it is a commercial centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the southernmost capital of Europe, and at just 0.61 square kilometres (0.24 sq mi), it is the European Union's smallest capital city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ta' Xbiex</span> Local council in Central Region, Malta

Ta' Xbiex is a locality and Local Council in the Central Region of Malta with a population of 2148 It is part of a small headland within the Marsamxett Harbour, right between the villages of Msida and Gżira.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pietà, Malta</span> Local council in Eastern Region, Malta

Pietà is a small harbour town in the Eastern Region of Malta, located near the outskirts of the capital city Valletta. Its name is derived from Italian and signifies "Pity."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria, Malta</span> Town and Local council in Gozo Region, Malta

Victoria, also known among the native Maltese as Rabat or by its title Città Victoria, is an administrative unit of Malta, and the main town on Gozo. Victoria has a total population of 6,901, and by population, is the largest locality in Gozo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">António Manoel de Vilhena</span> Portuguese nobleman; 66th ruler of Hospitaller Malta (r. 1722–36)

António Manoel de Vilhena was a Portuguese nobleman who was the 66th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem from 19 June 1722 to his death in 1736. Unlike a number of the other Grand Masters, he was benevolent and popular with the Maltese people. Vilhena is mostly remembered for the founding of Floriana, the construction of Fort Manoel and the Manoel Theatre, and the renovation of the city of Mdina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sliema</span> Local council in Eastern Region, Malta

Sliema is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta in the Northern Harbour District. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the most densely populated town on the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mdina</span> City in the Northern Region of Malta

Mdina, also known by its Italian epithets Città Vecchia and Città Notabile, is a fortified city in the Northern Region of Malta which served as the island's capital from antiquity to the medieval period. The city is still confined within its walls, and has a population of 250, but it is contiguous with the town of Rabat, which takes its name from the Arabic word for suburb, and has a population of over 11,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paola, Malta</span> Local council in South Eastern Region, Malta

Paola is a town in the South Eastern Region of Malta, with 8,706 inhabitants as of 2019. The town is a commercial centre in the Southern Harbour area of Malta, about 5 km from the capital Valletta, contiguous to Tarxien and Fgura, with which it forms a single urban area. Paola is named after Grand Master Antoine de Paule, who laid the foundation stone in 1626.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Harbour</span> Natural harbour in Valletta, Malta

The Grand Harbour, also known as the Port of Valletta, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been substantially modified over the years with extensive docks, wharves, and fortifications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Għajnsielem</span> Local council in Gozo Region, Malta

Għajnsielem, meaning "Peaceful Spring", is a municipality on the southeastern coast of the island of Gozo in Malta, including the entire island of Comino. It has a population of 3,200 residents, and is the first Gozitan village that greets the visitor on leaving Mġarr Harbour towards the Gozitan heartland. Its name originated from the water spring, around which in 1700, Grandmaster Perellos built an arcade containing public wash basins and fresh water spouts. Attractions include Lourdes Chapel with its sharp steeple and underlying niche of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fort Chambray and the towering of Ghajnsielem Parish Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sannat</span> Local council in Gozo Region, Malta

Sannat is an administrative unit of Malta, on the island of Gozo, with a population of 2,117 people. Ta' Sannat is in the south of Gozo, popular for its very high cliffs, ancient cart ruts, temples and dolmens, and rich fauna and flora. In 1951 The Duchess of Edinburgh of the United Kingdom visited a house called "The Lace house" located in a small square in Ta' Sannat called "Pjazza Tax-Xelina".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic Square, Valletta</span> Square in Valletta, Malta

Republic Square is a piazza in Valletta, Malta. The square was originally called Piazza Tesoreria or Piazza dei Cavallieri, since the treasury of the Order of Saint John was located in the square. After a statue of Queen Victoria was installed in the square in the 19th century, it became known as Queen's Square or Piazza Regina. Although its official name is Republic Square, it is still commonly referred to as Piazza Regina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastline of Malta</span>

The coastline of Malta consists of bays, sandy beaches, creeks, harbours, small villages, cities, cliffs, valleys, and other interesting sites. Here, there is a list of these different natural features that are found around the coast of Malta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roads in Malta</span> Overview of the various roads in Malta

In Malta most of the main roads are in the outskirts of the localities to connect one urban area with another urban area. The most important roads are those that connect the south of the island with the northern part, like Tal-Barrani Road, Aldo Moro Street in Marsa and Birkirkara Bypass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wignacourt Aqueduct</span> 17th-century aqueduct in Malta

The Wignacourt Aqueduct is a 17th-century aqueduct in Malta, which was built by the Order of Saint John to carry water from springs in Dingli and Rabat to the newly built capital city Valletta. The aqueduct carried water through underground pipes and over arched viaducts across depressions in the ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Publius Parish Church</span> Church in Floriana, Malta

The Saint Publius Parish Church, also known as the Floriana Parish Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Floriana, Malta, dedicated to Saint Publius. It was constructed at several stages between the 18th and 20th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Queen Victoria, Valletta</span> Statue in Valletta, Malta

A statue of Queen Victoria stands in front of the National Library of Malta in Republic Square, Valletta, Malta. Sculpted out of marble by the Sicilian artist Giuseppe Valenti, the statue depicts the Queen sitting down and wearing a shawl of Maltese lace. It was installed in the square on 5 August 1891, replacing a bronze statue of António Manoel de Vilhena.

References

  1. 1 2 "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 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. 1 2 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.
  12. "Luqa Weather Averages 1981-2010". Meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  13. "Sunshine & Daylight Hours in Luqa, Malta Sunlight, Cloud & Day length". Malta.climatemps.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  14. Galdies, Charles (2011). "The Climate of Malta: statistics, trends and analysis 1951-2010". Floriana: National Statistics Office. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014.
  15. "Who takes care of Floriana's 'fosos'? Councillor wants action on upkeep". Malta Today. 4 April 2023. Retrieved 10 May 2023.