Floriana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Floriana | |
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Motto: Città Vilhena, Flores mulcent aurae educat imber |
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| Official name: | Il-Furjana |
| Inhabitants' name: | Furjaniżi |
| Other names: | Borgo Vilhena, Il-Furjana |
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| Latitude: | 35°53 '36" N |
| Longitude: | 14°30 '21" E |
| Area: | 0.094km² |
| Population total: | 2246 (Nov 2005) |
| Population density: | 2864/km² |
| Borders: | Valletta, Ħamrun, Pietà, Marsa |
| Patron saint: | St. Publius |
| Day of festa: | January 22 |
| Website: | www.florianalocalcouncil.com |
Floriana (or Il-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 and the poet Oliver Friggieri.
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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 Antonio 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 Assocjazzjoni 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 Bocci 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.
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]
- Blessed Dun George Preca (founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine)
- Ignacio Falzon
- Maria Adeodata Pisani
[edit] Attractions
- Socjeta' Filarmonika Vilhena, or Vilhena Band Club, named after the town's founder.
- Pjazza San Publju (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)
- Herbert Ganado Gardens
- Argotti Botanical Gardens
- Msida Bastion Garden of Rest
- 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.
- 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.
- Porte des Bombes
[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 hosts the Phoenicia Meridien Hotel, one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels on Malta.[citation needed]
[edit] Floriana Main Roads
- Pjazza E.S. Tonna (E.S. Tonna Square)
- Telgħat il-Kurċifiss (Crucifix Hill)
- Triq il-Mall (Mall Street)
- Triq ir-Re Dwardu (King Edward Street)
- Triq l-Assedju l-Kbir (Great Siege Street)
- Triq Nazzjonali (National Road)
- Triq Sant' Anna (St Anne Steet)
- Triq Sarria (Sarria Street)
[edit] Notes
| edit | Local Councils of Malta |  |
|---|---|---|
| Malta Island | ||
| Attard | Balzan | Birgu (Vittoriosa) | Birkirkara | Birżebbuġa | Bormla (Cospicua) | Dingli | Fgura | Floriana | Għargħur | Għaxaq | Gudja | Gżira | Ħamrun | Iklin | Isla (Senglea, Città Invicta) | Kalkara | Kirkop | Lija | Luqa | Marsa | Marsaskala (Wied il-Għajn) | Marsaxlokk | Mdina (Città Notabile) | Mellieħa | Mġarr | Mosta | Mqabba | Msida | Mtarfa | Naxxar | Paola (Raħal Ġdid) | Pembroke | Pietà | Qormi (Città Pinto) | Qrendi | Rabat | Safi | San Ġiljan (St. Julian's) | San Ġwann | San Pawl il-Baħar (St. Paul's Bay) | Santa Luċija | Santa Venera | Siġġiewi (Città Ferdinand) | Sliema | Swieqi | Tarxien | Ta' Xbiex | Valletta | Xgħajra | Żabbar (Città Hompesch) | Żebbuġ (Città Rohan) | Żejtun (Città Beland) | Żurrieq | ||
| Gozo Island | ||
| Fontana | Għajnsielem | Għarb | Għasri | Kerċem | Munxar | Nadur | Qala | Rabat (Victoria) | San Lawrenz | Sannat | Xagħra | Xewkija | Żebbuġ | ||
