Senglea

History

During the time of the Knights of St. John, Senglea was also used as a hunting area, and was known as L'Isola di San Giuliano.

In 1311 St. Julian's church or chapel was founded in Isola. This was the first building to be constructed on what later became Senglea. On 8 May 1552 the foundation stone of Fort St. Michael was laid. Work on the fort, which was designed by Architect Pedro Pardo, was completed in 1553. Construction of walled town Senglea took place during the following decade. The area, which had until the 1550s been known as Isola di San Giuliano or Isola di San Michele, was given city status by Grand Master Claude De La Sengle and was named after him.

Senglea played an important role in the Great Siege of Malta in 1565 and remained unconquered. The city was given the title Civitas Invicta (meaning "Unconquered City") by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette. In 1581 Senglea became a Parish dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady. The donation of the statue of Our Lady, popularly known as "Il-Bambina", is estimated to have occurred in 1618. Thousands of inhabitants of the city were killed in a plague epidemic in 1676.

In 1798, Senglea was involved in the blockade against French forces, who were ousted from Malta in 1800.

The parish church was bestowed with the title of Basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1921. Senglean-born Ignazio Panzavecchia was elected as the first Prime Minister of Malta in the first Self Government Constitution in the same year. Because of his ecclesiastical status he decided not to take up the position. Following Panzavecchia's refusal Joseph Howard was appointed as Prime Minister.

During the Second World War Senglea suffered heavy bombardments which devastated most of the city and killed many of its citizens. On 16 January 1941 a blitz by the Luftwaffe on HMS Illustrious, docked at the nearby Corradino, caused 21 fatalities and destroyed most of the city's buildings including the Basilica. King George VI visited the devastated city on 20 June 1943.

The newly built Basilica was consecrated by Archbishop Sir Mikiel Gonzi on 24 August 1957. The following day the Basilica resumed its normal functions after almost 16 years and the statue of Marija Bambina was placed inside its new "temple" amongst huge celebrations.

Pope John Paul II visited Senglea in May 1990. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Luftwaffe bombing of the city, a monument which honours the local victims of both World Wars was unveiled besides the Basilica on 5 September 1991. The first Local Council of Senglea was formed after an election on 3 March 1994. The first mayor of the city was Stephen Perici.

The Italian city of Cassino became a twin city with Senglea in 2003. In 2010 Senglea won a European Destinations of Excellence award for aquatic tourism.

Culture

Senglea is particularly famous for the statue of Jesus Christ the Redeemer (Ir-Redentur tal-Isla), located in the oratory of the basilica which is dedicated to the birth of the Virgin Mary (Marija Bambina).

File:Redentur4.JPG|The Redeemer File:SengleaBasilica.jpg|Senglea Basilica File:B3.jpg|Marija Bambina File:Richard Ellis, Isla.png|Parish feast in Isla in the 1910s, by Richard Ellis

Senglea also has a statue dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, which is often referred to as Il-Madonna tan-Nofs, literally meaning "Our Lady of the Centre". It was originally erected in the city centre during the time of the plague, as gratitude, for being the only town not contaminated.

The local band club is currently named "Socjeta' Filarmonika La Vincitrice". The city's semi-professional football team Senglea Athletic was formed in 1934 to replace the defunct Senglea United side.

Population

With an area of just over half a square mile, Senglea is Malta's smallest locality. It is also its most densely populated. Around the start of the 20th century, Senglea had more than 8200 people, making it the most densely populated town in Europe. At the time, Senglea, as well as Cospicua, were the centre of Malta's elite and intelligentsia. The Second World War rapidly altered its social structure as many left to take refuge in outlying towns and countryside, never to return. In recent years, rehabilitation of the Cottonera Waterfront as a yacht marina has spurred a lot of interest from foreign expatriates and businessmen. A March 2011 estimate put its population at 2,964. Its population stood at 2,821 as of March 2013, and this decreased to 2,784 in March 2014.

Transport

Senglea is linked to the capital city of Valletta by a network of bus services. Prior to their introduction in the early 20th century, the cities were connected by boat services. In July 2011, following the introduction of a new bus network by Arriva, boats between the two locations were restarted in response to complaints that bus journeys were too slow.

Notable people

• Francesco Zahra (1710–1773), painter who worked on many churches in Malta
• Juan Bautista Azopardo (1772–1848), founder of the Argentinian Navy in 1810
• Giorgio Mitrovich (1795–1885), politician and activist who successfully campaigned for improved freedoms and rights for Maltese people in the 1830s
• Louis Shickluna (1808–1880), shipbuilder whose shipyards in Canada constructed over 140 ships between 1838 and 1880
• Andrea De Bono (1821–1871), explorer of both the River Nile and the Sobat River in Africa
• Ignazio Panzavecchia (1855–1925), priest and politician who declined the position of Prime Minister of Malta in 1921 after his party won a majority
• Mauro Inguanez (1887–1955), priest at the Benedictine Abbey of Cassino, now a twin city of Senglea, and later librarian at the Valletta-based Royal Library
• John F. Marks (1894–1954), man of remarkable political foresight and intellectual initiative who was founder of Dar tal-Haddiema in Senglea. Active member of Labour Party Council instrumental in matters pertaining to the Constitution such as social, educational, industrial and legislative. Prepared the text for Dr. Boffa to propose Bills in Legislative Assembly for Workers Rights and the replacement of Italian with Maltese and English languages in courts and civil service. Leading promoter in the party ensuring that May Day was created in Malta in 1926.
• Gigi Gauci (1911–2003), politician and founder member of the Malta Labour Party
• Charles Clews (1919–2009), actor and comedian
• Anthony Perici (1920–2010), politician, first full-time Mayor of Twinsburg, Ohio
• Charles Thake (1927–2018), actor

Twin towns – sister cities

Senglea is twinned with:

• ITA Cassino, Italy
• LTU Zarasai, Lithuania

Gallery

File:Malta 11 Great Harbour.jpg|A view of Senglea from the Grand Harbour File:Senglea Point.JPG|Senglea Point File:Fort St. Michael at Malta (sunset).jpg|View of Senglea from the Upper Barrakka Gardens File:Gardjola Garden, Senglea.jpg|Gardjola Garden File:Gardjola (The Spur) seen from the harbour.jpg|The Gardjola, Senglea File:Senglea Basilica Interior.jpg|Inside Senglea's Basilica File:Il-Malta2.JPG|Senglea Feast - Il-Malta File:Festa2.JPG|Senglea Feast - Marija Bambina File:Regatta2008.JPG|The Regatta, Senglea's most popular sport File:Senglea - panoramic view towards Valetta, Malta - 2016.jpg|Panoramic view at sunset from Senglea towards Valletta File:View of Senglea.jpg|View of Senglea from Valletta

References

References

1. "Historical information". Senglea Local Council.
2. (27 August 2012). "Statue of the Madonna and Child".
3. Mangion, Fabian. (13 February 2011). "Young Senglea priest among victims of Illustrious blitz". [[The Times of Malta]].
4. Douglas-Hamilton, James. (1981). "The air battle for Malta: the diaries of a fighter pilot". [[Mainstream Publishing]].
5. Abela, Joseph. (26 August 2002). "Senglea and Montecassino". The Times of Malta.
6. (3 October 2010}}{{Dead link). "President and Mrs Abela end official visit in Senglea". DI-VE.
7. Baldacchino, Carmel. (2 April 2009). "The fore-runners of Senglea Athletic". The Times of Malta.
8. (9 August 2011). "Population statistics". mjha.gov.mt.
9. (31 March 2013). "Estimated Population by Locality". Malta Government Gazette.
10. (16 May 2014). "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". [[Government of Malta]].
11. Carabott, Sarah. (14 July 2011). "Back to the future for Arriva?". [[The Times of Malta]].
12. "Prominent Sengleans". Senglea Local Council.
13. (8 March 2015). "Recalling a brave, sincere patriot forgotten by Malta". [[Times of Malta]].
14. Abela, Joseph. (16 June 2008). "Louis Shickluna - A successful Senglean shipbuilder". The Times of Malta.
15. (8 June 2003). "Gigi passes away as Labour party salutes". [[Malta Today]].
16. Azzopardi, Marika. (7 February 2010). "Charles Clews – Comedian Extraordinaire". [[The Malta Independent]].
17. Schunk, Andrew. (15 April 2010). "Anthony Perici, city's first full-time mayor, dies". [[Twinsburg Bulletin]].
18. "Twinning". Government of Malta.
19. "Zarasai". Visit Lithuania Travel Agency.
20. Serracino, Joseph. (16 December 2017). "Dawra kulturali mal-Port il-Kbir". Orizzont.