Floriana

Floriana
Furjana
Borgo Vilhena
Local council
Il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Furjana

View of Floriana from Valletta

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: Flores mulcent aurae educat imber
Coordinates: 35°53′36″N 14°30′21″E / 35.89333°N 14.50583°ECoordinates: 35°53′36″N 14°30′21″E / 35.89333°N 14.50583°E
Country  Malta
Island Malta
Borders Valletta, Ħamrun, Pietà, Marsa
Government
 • Mayor Davina Sammut Hili (PL)
Area
 • Total 0.94 km2 (0.36 sq mi)
Population (March 2013)
 • Total 2,230
 • Density 2,400/km2 (6,100/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 (Maltese: Furjana) is a town in the Grand Harbour area of Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. It had a population of 2,230 as of March 2013.[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 poet Oliver Friggieri, and Swedish Idol winner Kevin Borg.

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.

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 tradition, Publius received the Apostle Paul during his shipwreck on the island as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles 28, 1-10.

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:

Main sights

Argotti Gardens

Village Core

Government

The old flag of Floriana, in use 1993-c.2008
The old coat of arms of Floriana, in use 1993-c.2008

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.

The Floriana Local Council was created 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:

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; 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.

Music

Floriana community services

Zones in Floriana

References

  1. ↑ Estimated Population by Locality 31 March 2013. Malta Government Gazette 19,094. Retrieved 11 June 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Floriana.