Marsa, Malta

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Marsa

Il-Marsa
Local council
Marsa Malta 18.jpg
View of Marsa parish church
Flag of Marsa
Flag
Coat of arms of Marsa
Coat of arms
Marsa in Malta.svg
Coordinates: 35°53′0″N 14°29′41″E / 35.88333°N 14.49472°E / 35.88333; 14.49472Coordinates: 35°53′0″N 14°29′41″E / 35.88333°N 14.49472°E / 35.88333; 14.49472
Country Malta
RegionSouth Eastern Region
DistrictSouthern Harbour District
BordersFloriana, Ħamrun, Luqa, Paola, Qormi
Government
 • MayorJosef Azzopardi (PL)
Area
 • Total2.8 km2 (1.1 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)
 • Total5,454
 • Density1,900/km2 (5,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Marsi (m), Marsija (f), Marsin (pl)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
MRS
Dialing code356
ISO 3166 codeMT-26
Patron saintMaria Regina
Holy Trinity
Day of festaLast Sunday of August
First Sunday of June
WebsiteOfficial website

Marsa (Maltese: Il-Marsa) is a town in the South Eastern Region of Malta, with a population of 4,401 people as of March 2014.[1] The name Marsa means "the harbour".[2]

History[]

Marsa is located on the Marsa Creek, a body of water formed by the flow of water from wadis in high ground near the sea. The creek includes the Grand Harbour which the town is based on. A port was first established at Marsa by the Phoenicians. Remains of Roman constructions have been found close to the town.[2]

At the arrival of the Order of St John in Malta, a particular cultivated garden was among the few places observed.[3] A vital spring for the Grand Harbour was located on site.[4] It is thought a foundry of the Order may have been located at Marsa.[2] During the Great Siege of Malta of 1565, Marsa was used as a camp by troops of the Ottoman Empire. Following their defeat, Marsa became a barony containing a number of vineyards.[2] A noteworthy bridge was located in Marsa which facilitated the road from Birgu to the area of Valletta and vice versa.[4]

Marsa in 1967

In the 17th century a historical museum, the , was located at Marsa. This was created when Giovanni Francesco Abela converted his house into a museum and was the first of its type on Malta. Many of its artefacts are now held at the National Museum of Archaeology in Malta's capital city Valletta.[2]

During the French blockade of 1798-1800, Maltese insurgents built Marsa Battery and Jesuit Hill Battery in Marsa to encircle the French in the Grand Harbour. Both batteries were demolished after the end of the blockade.[5]

A new port was constructed in the 1860s under the rule of the British Empire. It was intended that a town would be built at the site under the name Albert Town, named after Prince Albert. By 1890 the town had a population of over 600 people, but it was later abandoned. A new town at the site emerged in the 20th century, taking the name Marsa after the creek.[2]

In July 2009 a plan to regenerate the harbour area was announced. This is intended to turn the site into a recreational area and is planned include the construction of a marina with space for 170 boats.[6]

Facilities[]

Marsa Power Station in 2009

Marsa is home to the . In November 2014, the Malta Shipbuilding in Marsa was also the venue for both the 12th annual Junior Eurovision Song Contest and the Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2015.[2]

Since 1953, the oil-fueled Marsa Power Station provided most of the electricity to the Maltese Islands,[7] until it began to be demolished in 2014. A new Marsa north distribution centre will be built instead of the former power station, in order to reinforce the island's power grid.[8]

Marsa Race Track, a one-kilometre long horse racing track, was constructed in 1868 and remains in use.[9]

Malta's postal administration MaltaPost has its head office in Qormi Road, Marsa. The General Post Office, Central Mail Room and Philatelic Bureau have been located in this complex since 1997.[10]

Zones in Marsa[]

Demographics[]

Marsa in 1912

Twin towns[]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Malta

Marsa is twinned with:

References[]

  1. ^ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Town At A Crossroad. Marsa Local Council. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  3. ^ Leopardi, E. R. (1949). "The First Printed Description of Malta : Lyons 1536" (PDF). Scientia. 15 (2): 56, 58.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Ganado, Ganado (2007). "The Map of Johannes Quintinus Haeduus and its Dervatives" (PDF). Symposia Melitensia. University of Malta. 4 (3): 115, 118.
  5. ^ Spiteri, Stephen C. (May 2008). "Maltese 'siege' batteries of the blockade 1798-1800" (PDF). Arx - Online Journal of Military Architecture and Fortification (6): 36–37. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Marsa menqa regeneration plan unveiled". The Times of Malta. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  7. ^ Joseph A. Agius (1986). Planned development of the Maltese electricity supply system (PDF) (Thesis).
  8. ^ Martin, Ivan (28 October 2014). "Marsa power station: The beginning of the end". Times of Malta. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  9. ^ Richards, Brian (2008). Malta. New Holland Publishers. p. 27. ISBN 978-1845373610.
  10. ^ "Maltapost privatisation latest red-letter day in postal history". Times of Malta. 21 January 2008. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  11. ^ Cassar Pullicino, Joseph (October–December 1949). "The Order of St. John in Maltese folk-memory" (PDF). Scientia. 15 (4): 163. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Bridgwater Twinning Association". Bridgwater Town Council. Retrieved 18 July 2013.

External links[]

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