Birkirkara Birkirkara | |
---|---|
Motto: | |
Coordinates: 35°53′48″N14°27′45″E / 35.89667°N 14.46250°E | |
Country | Malta |
Region | Eastern Region |
District | Northern Harbour District |
Borders | Attard, Balzan, Iklin, Msida, Qormi, San Ġwann, Santa Venera |
Government | |
• Mayor | Joanne Debono Grech (PL) |
Area | |
• Total | 2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi) |
Elevation | 40 m (130 ft) |
Population (January 2019) | |
• Total | 24,356 [1] |
• Density | 9,021/km2 (23,360/sq mi) |
Demonym(s) | Karkariż (m), Karkariża (f), Karkariżi (pl) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | BKR |
Dialing code | 356 |
ISO 3166 code | MT-04 |
Patron saints | Helena Empress; Saint Joseph; Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Anthony of Padua |
Day of festa | Saint Helen: 18 August (or first Sunday after date); Sunday after 15 August; 1 May; First Sunday of July; First Sunday of June |
Website | Official website |
Birkirkara (abbreviated as B'Kara) is a city in the eastern region of Malta. It is the second most populous on the island, with 24,356 inhabitants as of 2020. [2] The town consists of five autonomous parishes: Saint Helen, [3] Saint Joseph the Worker, [4] Our Lady of Mount Carmel, [5] Saint Mary [6] and San Gorg Preca. [7] The city's motto is In hoc signo vinces , and its coat of arms is a plain red cross, surmounted by a crown.
Birkirkara means "cold water" or "running water". [8] This is attributed to the valley in the town. [9]
Originally, the name was written as Birchircara, as influenced by Italian spelling which traditionally does not use the letter 'K'. It is often abbreviated as B'kara/Kara.
Birkirkara is situated in a valley, which is most likely where it gets its name from. It is known for flooding on heavy stormy days. [10] Several projects have been proposed. [11] The area has also received embellishment works from time to time. [12]
Birkirkara features a Csa Mediterranean climate under the Köppen climate classification. Birkirkara features mild, wet winters and dry hot summers. The city's temperature varies from 10.3 to 30.7 °C (50.5 to 87.3 °F) during the course of a year. [13]
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Birkirkara is one of Malta's oldest towns with a recorded mention in 1402 with The Cappella of Birkarkam which is understood to be an error for Birkirkara. [14] It received mention in the 1436 Ecclesiastical Report mentioning the then existing parishes in Malta and Gozo, from which Birkirkara emerged as the largest parish. [15] Various parishes and suburbs developed out of Birkirkara over the years, including Sliema, St. Julian's, Msida, Ħamrun in the 19th century and Santa Venera in the early 20th century. In more recent years, San Ġwann (1965) and Ta' l-Ibraġ hived off Birkirkara to form part of the new parish and locality of Swieqi in 1993.
Birkirkara has grown into an important commercial centre as well as a densely populated residential area.
Birkirkara is home to many locations of importance.
Birkirkara's main religious feast is that of St Helen [24] at St. Helen's Basilica, which is celebrated on 18 August or on the first Sunday after that date. [25] The main event of the celebration is a procession with a wooden statue carved by the Maltese master-sculptor Salvu Psaila. [26] Notably, this is the only procession on the island carried out in the morning. The procession leaves the basilica at exactly 8:00 a.m. and returns to it at 10:45 am. The statue is lifted to shoulder-height by a group of townsmen through the main streets of the town. [27]
The Church of Our Lady of Victories [29] is a small church found within the small narrow streets in the area known as 'Has-Sajjied'. This church was known to have existed as far back as 1575.[ citation needed ] In the 17th century when the parish church was being built this church was dismantled to allow easy access to the quarry that was supplying the stones needed. It was erected once again after the 1675–1676 Malta plague epidemic. The present church was built between 1728 and 1736 in the Baroque style. The internal pilasters follow the Tuscan style with the dome featuring floral motifs and emblems of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. [28]
The Birkirkara Local Council forms part of the Birkirkara Civice Centre building. The current Birkirkara local council members are: [31]
Birkirkara has a multi-sport club in Birkirkara Saint Joseph Sports Club mostly known for its Athletics section, [33] however, it also has active sections responsible for cycling, [34] triathlon, [35] swimming, [36] and football, [37] which competes in the Maltese Inter-Amateur Soccer Competition. [38]
Birkirkara F.C. has won the Maltese Premier League four times. [39] Birkirkara F.C. participated in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League beating West Ham United F.C., only to be eliminated via penalties. [40] [41] [42] [43] Birkirkara also eliminated Heart of Midlothian in the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League. [44] [45] [46] [47] Malta's leader of the opposition Adrian Delia served as Birkirkara F.C. president from 2015-2016 and 2017-2018. [48] [49]
Iacob Heraclid, the Greco-Maltese adventurer who ruled over Moldavia in the 1560s, was born in the city. Eddie Fenech Adami, who served as Prime Minister and President of Malta, was born there, as was Anthony Mamo, the first President of Malta.
Birkirkara is twinned with: [50]
Saint Julian's is a town in the Central Region of Malta. As of 2020, its registered number of inhabitants stands at 13,792. It is situated along the coast, north of the country's capital, Valletta. It is known for tourism-oriented businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and nightclubs which are centred mainly in an area known as Paceville.
Swieqi is a town in the Northern Region of Malta. It is a residential area just 15 minutes by bus from Sliema and within walking distance of Malta's nightlife and entertainment centres, Paceville and St. Julian's. As the town developed, residential estates took over farmland. The town's name means "water channels", a reminder of the region's past.
Balzan is a municipality in the Central Region of Malta, one of the so-called three villages, together with Attard and Lija. The village originally consisted of a group of small dwellings and farms but eventually grew, becoming a parish in the 17th century. As of 2021, the town registered a population of 4,774 inhabitants.
Rabat is a town in the Northern Region of Malta, with a population of 11,497 as of March 2014. It adjoins the ancient capital city of Mdina, and a north-western area formed part of the Roman city of Melite until its medieval retrenchment.
Żurrieq is a town in the Southern Region of Malta. It is one of the oldest towns in the country, and it has a population of 11,823 inhabitants as of March 2014. Żurrieq is one of the 10 parishes to be documented in 1436 and it is dedicated to Saint Catherine. The island of Filfla is administratively a part of the town. The town stretches from Nigret to Ħal Far. In old times the town was had a border with Żejtun. The village of Qrendi used to be part of the parish of Żurrieq until 1618 when it was made into its own parish.
St. Paul's Bay is a town in the Northern Region of Malta, sixteen kilometres northwest of the capital Valletta. Saint Paul's Bay is the largest town in the Northern Region and the seat of the Northern Regional Committee. It is the most populous settlement in Malta.
Lija is a small village in the Central Region of Malta. It forms part of the Three villages of Malta, along with Attard and Balzan. Lija has a baroque parish church and seven other small chapels. The parish church is dedicated to Our Saviour. Lija became a parish in 1594, after the small community detached itself from the neighbouring town, Birkirkara. It has a population of 3,162 as of 2021.
Qormi, also known by its title Città Pinto, is a city in the Southern Region of Malta, southwest of Valletta in the centre of the island. It has a population of 16,324, making it Malta's fifth-largest city.
San Ġwann is a town in the Central Region of Malta, with a population of 14,244 as of 2021. Previous to its separate administration the town used to form part of two separate localities being Birkirkara and St. Julian's.
Gudja is a village in the Southern Region of Malta, with a population of 3,148 as of March 2017. The village is located on high grounds, south of Valletta. It is administered by the Gudja Local Council. A number of schools, clubs, public gardens and recreations places are found around the village.
Kirkop is a village in the Southern Region of Malta. It is found near the Malta International Airport, and has been inhabited since pre-history. The parish church is dedicated to Saint Leonard. The football team of the village is the Kirkop United Football Club.
Santa Venera is a town in the Central Region of Malta, with a population of 8,834 (2021). It is located between the towns of Birkirkara and Ħamrun, and it also borders Qormi and Msida.
Msida is a harbour town in the Central Region of Malta with a population of 7,623 (2021).
Iklin is a village in the Central Region of Malta, with a population of 3,247 as at 2021. Iklin was established in the mid-20th century; however some archaeological sites and a medieval chapel, named as St. Michael Chapel, are proof to earlier settlements. Until recently, the town was considered to form part of the Three villages of Malta, as part of Lija. With the separation of Iklin from Lija, Iklin is no longer part of the three villages. It is bordered by Għargħur, San Ġwann, Birkirkara, Balzan and Naxxar.
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.
Qala is an administrative unit of Malta, on the island of Gozo, with a population of 1,929 as of September 2019. Nearby is Ħondoq ir-Rummien, a coastline with salt pans and caves.
Bidnija is a rural hamlet between Mosta, St. Paul's Bay and Mġarr. It is located in the northern region of Malta and is home to roughly 308 people as of 2008, the second least populated habitable zone on the Maltese islands after Mdina. It is located between two main valleys then extends into other small valleys surrounding the area. It is largely a rural village surrounded by fields mainly belong to the inhabitants, although over the years other Maltese and foreigners have settled in the area generally for its countryside views.
Malta is for non-local government purposes divided into districts as opposed to the local government localities. The three main types of such districts – statistical, electoral at national level, and policing – have no mainstream administrative effect as the local councils form the first-tier – moreover only administrative tier – divisions of the country.
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.
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