Adopted by Evangelical Baptist Church (Floriana).
The actual suburb of Floriana lies a bit south of Valletta. This was part of the design and it allowed a clear area which could expose attackers to fire from the Valletta bastions if an enemy were to penetrate the Floriana fortifications.
Floriana is a relatively quiet suburb compared to the hustle and bustle of Valletta. There are a number of open spaces, including Independence Square and the Granaries in front of St. Publius Church. The Maglio Gardens is a long and narrow strip where novices of the order were expected to exercise. The area has since been turned into a garden with many monuments.
The Argotti Gardens sit on top of the bastions and offer a commanding view of Marsamxett Harbour and Hamrun. There are other small gardens built around the fortifications and some of them offer breath-taking views of the two harbours.
Buildings of Interest
St. Publius Church, built between 1733 and 1768, with the façade being rebuilt in 1771 and 1882. The church was badly damaged during an air-raid in 1942 and was eventually restored.
Sarria Chapel and the Seminary are also interesting buildings, built in 1678 and 1751 respectively.
'Portes des Bombes', a double-arched gateway, is one of the most striking features of the Floriana fortifications. It was built between 1697 and 1720 and stands across the entrance to Floriana. It is quite an imposing structure and Maltese drivers drive through the two narrow archways to and from Valletta with their usual zest for adventure (everyone breathe in!).
The headquarters of the Malta Bible Society are found in a quiet side-street in Floriana, and three blocks south is Knisja Evangelika Battista (Evangelical Baptist Church) which is the church home of Team Malta (us!).
Floriana Weblinks
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Adopted by Bethel Baptist Church of Harrodsburg Kentucky USA on 1st January 2004.
Gharghur is situated on high ground, and at the limits of Gharghur to the north you can look out and see much of Malta. The Gharghur "tower" takes advantage of this - it is a master antenna used to beam national radio and TV transmissions to the rest of Malta.
Gharghur Weblinks
Disclaimer: Please note that these links are provided for informational purposes, and their inclusion here does not mean that we endorse their content. Problems? Contact the webservant.
This is an excellent site with local news, information on activities, a history of Gharghur, places of interest in the area, a photo album and more.
There is a stunning arial photograph of Gharghur in the Introduction, under the "Locality" section. As you can see, the church is in the centre of the village, with streets radiating out from it. This is how Maltese villages were traditionally built, first the church, then the houses around it.
Gharghur's Primary (elementary) School is close to the church in the centre of the village, and caters for children from the ages of 3 to 10.
Check how Gharghur FC are faring this season, and read the club's history, and see photos of training sessions, matches, and celebrations.
Malta's Capital is a city called Valletta, built in the mid-1500's. In the early 1600's, the Grand Master de Paule wanted to strengthen Valletta's fortifications, and this was done by fortifying the rest of the peninsula, which became a suburb of Valletta - Floriana. (named after Paolo Floriani, an Italian engineer who planned the new fortifications)
Gharghur (pronounced gar-goor) is a small rural village with a population of about 2000 people. The streets are narrow and quiet, and the village is surrounded by agricultural land.