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Floriana, Malta

Floriana
Il-Furjana/Il-Floriana
Borgo Vilhena
Local council
From top: Malta Memorial, St. Publius Parish Church, Porte des Bombes, Christ the King Monument, Valletta Waterfront
Flag of Floriana
Flag
Coat of arms of Floriana
Coat of arms
Etymology: Pietro Paolo Floriani
Motto: Flores mulcent aurae educat imber
Floriana in Malta.svg
Coordinates: 35°53′36″N 14°30′21″E / 35.89333°N 14.50583°E / 35.89333; 14.50583Coordinates: 35°53′36″N 14°30′21″E / 35.89333°N 14.50583°E / 35.89333; 14.50583
Country  Malta
Region South Eastern Region
District Southern Harbour District
Established 1724
Founded by António Manoel de Vilhena
Borders Ħamrun, Marsa, Pietà, Valletta
Government
 • Mayor Davina Sammut Hili (PL)
Area
 • Total 0.94 km2 (0.36 sq mi)
Elevation 38 m (125 ft)
Population (March 2014)
 • Total 2,205
 • Density 2,300/km2 (6,100/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Furjaniż (m), Furjaniża (f), Furjaniżi (pl)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code FRN
Dialing code 356
ISO 3166 code MT-09
Patron saint St. Publius
Day of festa 22 January
Website www.florianalocalcouncil.com

Floriana (Maltese: Il-Furjana or Il-Floriana), also known by its title Borgo Vilhena, is a fortified town in the South Eastern Region area of Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. It has a population of 2,205 as of March 2014. 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 Dun Mauro Caruana, the poet Oliver Friggieri, the writer and politician Herbert Ganado and Swedish Idol winner Kevin Borg.

Floriana is named after Pietro Paolo Floriani, an Italian military engineer who designed the Floriana Lines, the line of fortifications surrounding the town. In Maltese, the town is called Il-Floriana by the local council. However, it is popularly known as Il-Furjana, and the latter is regarded as the official name by the National Council for the Maltese Language. Government sources use both variants.

The town's original official name was Borgo Vilhena (or Subborgo Vilhena) after Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, but the name fell out of use in favour of Floriana or Furjana. The name Borgo Vilhena is now used as a title, just like Valletta has the title Città Umilissima.

The origins of Floriana go back to 1636, when construction of the Floriana Lines commenced. The line of fortifications was built outside the fortifications of Valletta as an outer defensive line for the capital city. The lines were named after Pietro Paolo Floriani, the Italian military engineer who had designed them. The fortifications were partially defensible by 1640, but construction and modifications continued throughout the 17th and 18th century, being fully completed in the 1720s.


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