Floriana

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Floriana is a town in Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. It is named after the Italian military engineer Pietro Paolo Floriani from Macerata who was responsible for building the Floriana fortifications. However, the actual building of Floriana as a residential town was the work of the Portuguese Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena and in fact Floriana was also known as 'Borgo Vilhena' or 'Citta Vilhena'.

Floriana possesses the foremost football club in Malta, Floriana Football Club which was the most successful club throughout the 20th century. Other sports clubs in Floriana are the Floriana Amateur Football Club, Floriana Basketball Club, Klabb Bocci Floriana (trans.: Floriana Bowling Club), Vikings Sailing Club and Young Stars Hockey Club. All of these clubs, in addition to the Floriana Supporters Club and with the exception of the sailing club, are affiliated to the Assocjazzjoni Sport Floriana (trans.: Floriana Sports Association).

The Archipresbyteral Church of Floriana is dedicated to Saint Publius, traditionally acclaimed as the first Bishop of Malta. It was the same Publius who received the Apostle Paul during his shipwreck on the island as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. In fact apart from being the Patron Saint of Floriana, Saint Publius is also one of the Patron Saints of Malta. 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.

As in most localities in Malta, Floriana has its own band club, namely the Socjeta' Filarmonika Vilhena or Vilhena Band Club, named after the town's founder.Floriana also has the highest amount of gardens and open spaces, which include St. Publius Square (and the adjacent Granaries), The Mall, Centru Rikreattiv ir-Re Gorg V (King George V Recreational Grounds), Herbert Ganado Gardens, Argotti Botanical Gardens, Msida Bastion Garden of Rest, and Jubilee Grove, which actually demarcates this town from Hamrun and Pieta'. Portes des Bombes itself is a leading landmark in Malta, outstanding in its architecture. Floriana is also a leading administrative centre, hosting the Ministry and Dept of Education, The Ministry for Infrastructure and The Public Works Dept as well as other financial and commercial companies spread around the former Colonial Administrative Area at one time also known as Beltissebh. The Police Headquarters is also based here. Two fort ravelins, namely Notre Dame and St. Francis also feature the National Audit Office and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority respectively. Floriana also hosts The Phoenicia Meridien Hotel one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels on the island. Floriana also hosts Pinto Wharf which has now been transformed into a cruise liners' terminal and entertainment centre known as Valletta Waterfront. The old Pinto stores dating more than 250 years, have been restored to their original architecture and as such an old dilapidated area has been regenerated with encouraging success. Floriana also hosts the hydrofoil terminal which during summertime is very busy with its daily departures to Sicily. At the other end of the harbour, Floriana also hosts Haywharf which features the Msida Bastions Garden of Rest, another landmark which has been restored and which also reportedly contains the grave of Mikiel Anton Vassalli, an 18th century writer and reformer who is much associated with Malta's national identity.

For years, Pjazza San Publju (Saint Publius Square) in Floriana has been the venue of most of the important events in the history of Malta. It was also the scene of the religious functions held by Pope John Paul II during his two visits to Malta, the last one involving the beatification ceremony of three Maltese i.e. Father Gorg Preca (founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine), Injazju Falzon and Sister Maria Adeodata Pisani.

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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