Floriana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Floriana
(Il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Furjana) |
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Motto: Città Vilhena, Flores mulcent aurae educat imber |
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| Official name: | Il-Furjana |
| Inhabitants: | Furjaniż (m), Furjaniża (f), Furjaniżi (pl) |
| Other names: | Borgo Vilhena, Il-Furjana (code: FRN) |
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| Latitude: | 35°53 '36" N |
| Longitude: | 14°30 '21" E |
| Area: | 0.094km² |
| Population total: | 2,240 (November 2005) |
| Population density: | 2,374/km² |
| Borders: | Valletta, Ħamrun, Pietà, Marsa |
| Patron saint: | St. Publius |
| Day of festa: | January 22 |
| Mayor: | Nigel Holland (Independent) |
| Website: | www.florianalocalcouncil.com |
Floriana (Maltese: Furjana) is a town in Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. 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 Dom Mauro Caruana, the poet Oliver Friggieri and singer and Idol contestant Kevin Borg.
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[edit] Founding
Floriana is named after the Italian military engineer Pietro Paolo Floriani from Macerata who was responsible for building the town's fortifications. However, the actual building of Floriana as a residential town was the work of the Portuguese Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, causing Floriana to be known by the nicknames Borgo Vilhena or Citta Vilhena. Floriana was intended to be a suburb of Valletta but then for various reasons, Grand Master Vilhena changed his mind and renamed this suburb Floriana, thus developing it as a town in its own right.[citation needed]
[edit] 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:
- Floriana Football Club which was the most successful football club in Malta throughout the 20th century
- Floriana Amateur Football Club
- Floriana Basketball Club
- Klabb Boċċi Floriana (trans.: Floriana Bowling Club)
- Young Stars Hockey Club
The Vikings Sailing Club is also located in Floriana, though it is not associated with the Sports Association.
[edit] Religion
Saint Publius, one of the Patron Saints of Malta, is 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.
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 Publius Square during his two visits to Malta, and on his second visit held the beatification ceremony there for three Maltese:[1]
- Saint Ġorġ Preca (founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine)
- Bl.Injazju Falzon
- Bl.Maria Adeodata Pisani
The Parish of Floriana can also be found on the web at www.florianaparish.org
[edit] Attractions
- Soċjetà Filarmonika Vilhena, or Vilhena Band Club, named after the town's founder.
- Pjazza San Publiju (St. Publius Square) and the adjacent granaries. St Publius Square has been the venue for many important events in the history of Malta.
- The Mall
- Centru Rikreattiv ir-Re Gorg V (King George V Recreational Grounds)
- Porte des Bombes
- Herbert Ganado Gardens
- Argotti Botanical Gardens
- Msida Bastions Garden of Rest, on Haywharf, another landmark which has been restored and reportedly contains the grave of Mikiel Anton Vassalli, an 18th century writer and reformer who is much associated with Malta's national identity.
- Jubilee Grove (which demarcates the town from Hamrun and Pieta)
- Valletta Waterfront
- Hydrofoil terminal, which is very busy during summertime with daily departures to Sicily.
[edit] Village Core
- 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)
[edit] Government
Floriana is a leading administrative centre, hosting the Ministry and Dept of Education, the Ministry for Infrastructure, Police Headquarters and the Public Works Dept as well as other financial and commercial companies spread around the former Colonial Administrative Area of Beltissebh. The National Audit Office and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority are located in two fort ravelins, Notre Dame and St. Francis, respectively.
[edit] Lodging and entertainment
Floriana is home to the Hotel Phoenicia Malta, one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels on Malta, as well as the 5 star luxury Hotel; the Grand Hotel Excelsior. There are plans by the Maltese government to convert the old British hospital, Sir Paul Boffa which overlooks the Valletta Waterfront (also in Floriana) into an exclusive boutique hotel.[citation needed]
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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)
[edit] Main roads in Floriana
- Pjazza E.S. Tonna (E.S. Tonna Square)
- Pjazza Robert Samut (Robert Samut Square)
- Triq Ġilormu Cassar (Gilormo Cassar Street)
- Triq il-Kapuċċini (Capuchins Street)
- Telgħat il-Kurċifiss (Crucifix Hill)
- Triq il-Mall (Mall Street)
- Vjal ir-Re Dwardu VII (King Edward VII Avenue)
- Triq l-Assedju l-Kbir (Great Siege Street)
- Triq l-Indipendenza (Independence Street)
- Triq Nazzjonali (National Road)
- Triq Pintu (Pinto Street)
- Triq Sa Maison (Sa Maison Road)
- Triq San Franġisk (St. Frances Street)
- Triq San Kalċidonju (St. Calcidonio Street)
- Triq Sant' Anna (St Anne Street)
- Triq Sarria (Sarria Street)
- Triq V.Dimech (V.Dimech Street)
- Triq Vilhena (Vilhena Street)
- Xatt it-Tiben (Hay Wharf)
- Xatt Lascaris (Lascaris Wharf)
- Triq il- Miratur (Gunlayer Street)
[edit] Notes
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