Senglea

Senglea, also called Città Invicta, is a fortified city in the Port Region of Malta. It is one of the Three Cities in the Grand Harbour area, along with Cospicua and Vittoriosa. With about 2,720 people, Senglea is very small but crowded, making it the second most crowded place on the island after Sliema.

The city is named after Grand Master Claude de la Sengle, who built it. It is called Città Invicta, meaning "invincible city," because it successfully resisted an Ottoman invasion in 1565 during the Great Siege of Malta.

Senglea was once part of a place called Birmula. When the order of St John arrived in Malta, they planned to build three cities there. They started with Senglea, then built Vittoriosa and Cospicua. The land around it was named Cottonera and protected by strong walls called the Cottonera lines. People in Senglea speak a special way of talking called the Cottonera dialect.

History

Senglea has a long history from the time of the Knights of St. John. It was once a hunting area called L'Isola di San Giuliano. The first building there was St. Julian's church, built in 1311. In 1552, work started on Fort St. Michael, and it was finished the next year. The area became a walled town and was named after Grand Master Claude De La Sengle.

Senglea was very important during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. It was never taken and earned the title Civitas Invicta, meaning "Unconquered City." It became a parish in 1581. During the Second World War, many buildings were destroyed by bombings. A new Basilica was finished in 1957, and in 1994, Senglea formed its first Local Council. Today, Senglea remains an important part of Malta's history.

Culture

Senglea is famous for its statue of Jesus Christ the Redeemer, which is in the oratory of the basilica for the birth of the Virgin Mary. The city also has a statue of Mary, mother of Jesus, called "Our Lady of the Centre." This statue was placed in the city center during a hard time as a symbol of thanks.

The local band club is called "Socjeta' Filarmonika La Vincitrice." The city's football team, Senglea Athletic, was started in 1934.

Population

Senglea had a population of 2,408 in July 2024. This included 1,270 males and 1,138 females, with 2,007 Maltese nationals and 401 foreign nationals.

Senglea is Malta's smallest locality, covering just over half a square mile, but it is also the most crowded. Around the early 1900s, it had more than 8,200 people, making it the most crowded town in Europe at the time. During the Second World War, many people moved away for safety and did not return. Recently, improvements to the Cottonera Waterfront have attracted many foreign visitors and business people.

Transport

Senglea is connected to the capital city of Valletta by bus services. Before buses, boats were used to travel between the two cities. In July 2011, boat services started again because people thought the bus trips were too slow, after a new bus network by Arriva.

Notable people

Senglea has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Francesco Zahra was a painter known for his work on Malta's churches. Juan Bautista Azopardo helped start the navy of Argentina in 1810. Giorgio Mitrovich was a politician who worked for better freedoms and rights for Maltese people in the 1830s.

Other notable figures include Louis Shickluna, a shipbuilder from Canada who built many ships. Andrea Debono explored rivers in Africa, including the River Nile and the Sobat River. Ignazio Panzavecchia was a priest and politician. Mauro Inguanez served as a priest and librarian. John F. Marks helped create May Day in Malta in 1926. Gigi Gauci was a founding member of the Malta Labour Party. Charles Clews and Charles Thake were well-known actors. Lina Brockdorff was a writer and broadcaster.