Floriana
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| Floriana | |
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Motto: Città Vilhena, Flores mulcent aurae educat imber |
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| Official name: | Il-Furjana |
| Inhabitants' name: | 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 (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 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.
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 Ġorġ Preca (founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine)
- Injazju Falzon
- Maria Adeodata Pisani
[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] 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 LeMeridien 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] Band clubs
- Vilhena Band Club (Soċjetà Filarmonika Vilhena)
The Vilhena Band Club 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.
www.vilhenabc.com
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[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 (Indipendence 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] Floriana streets that show the Roman Catholic faith
- Foss Notre Dame (Notre Dame Ditch)
- Ġnien San Filippu (St. Philip's Garden)
- Mina Notre Dame (Notre Dame Tunnel)
- Misraħ San Publiju (St. Publius Square)
- Pjazza l-Papa Ġwanni XXIII (Pope John XXIII Square)
- Pjazza San Kalċidonju (St. Calcidonio Square)
- Pjazza Sant' Anna (St. Anne Square)
- Sur ta' San Ġakmu (St. Jacom Bastion)
- Sur ta' San Luqa (St. Luke Bastion)
- Telgħa tal-Kurċifiss (Crucifix Hill)
- Triq il-Kapuċċini (Capuchine Friars Street)
- Triq il-Konservatorju (Conservatory Street)
- Triq l-Isqof Mauro Caruana (Bishop Mauro Caruana Street)
- Triq San Franġisk (St. Frances Street)
- Triq San Publiju (St. Publius Street)
- Triq San Tumas (St. Thomas Street)
- Triq Sant' Anna (St. Anne Street)
[edit] Notes
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