| Il-Furjana Kunsill Lokali Floriana Borgo Vilhena, Il-Furjana |
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| — Local council — | |||
| Il-Furjana | |||
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| Motto: Flores mulcent aurae educat imber | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Malta | ||
| Island | Malta | ||
| District | |||
| Borders | Valletta, Ħamrun, Pietà, Marsa | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Nigel Holland (Ind.) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 0.094 km2 (0 sq mi) | ||
| Population (November 2005) | |||
| • Total | 2,240 | ||
| • Density | 23,829.8/km2 (61,718.9/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym | Furjaniż (m), Furjaniża (f), Furjaniżi (pl) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | FRN | ||
| Dialing code | 356 | ||
| Patron saint | St. Publius | ||
| Day of festa | January 22 | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Floriana (known as 'Il-Furjana') is a town in the Grand Harbour area of 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 Swedish Idol winner Kevin Borg.
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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.
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.
Saint Publius is the first Maltese Saint and 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.
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]
The Parish of Floriana can also be found on the web at www.florianaparish.org
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 Beltissebh. The National Audit Office along with the Department of Contracts and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, are located in two fort ravelins, Notre Dame and St. Francis, respectively.
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; and the Grand Hotel Excelsior. There are also 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.
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