Marsa Il-Marsa |
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Local council | |||
View of Marsa
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Coordinates: 35°53′0″N 14°29′41″E / 35.88333°N 14.49472°ECoordinates: 35°53′0″N 14°29′41″E / 35.88333°N 14.49472°E | |||
Country | Malta | ||
Region | South Eastern Region | ||
District | Southern Harbour District | ||
Borders | Floriana, Ħamrun, Luqa, Paola, Qormi | ||
Government | |||
• Mayor | Francis Debono (PL) | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 2.8 km2 (1.1 sq mi) | ||
Population (March 2014) | |||
• Total | 4,401 | ||
• Density | 1,600/km2 (4,100/sq mi) | ||
Demonym(s) | Marsi (m), Marsija (f), Marsin (pl) | ||
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
Postal code | MRS | ||
Dialing code | 356 | ||
ISO 3166 code | MT-26 | ||
Patron saint |
Maria Regina Holy Trinity |
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Day of festa | Last Sunday of August First Sunday of June |
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Website | Official 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. The name Marsa means "the harbour".
Marsa is located on the Marsa Creek, a body of water formed by the flow of water from wadis in high ground nearby to 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. The Arabs used the area as a port and since then has been named as Marsa, meaning harbour.
At the arrival of the Order of St John in Malta, a particular cultivated garden was among the few places observed. It is thought a foundry of the Order may have been located at Marsa. 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.
In the 17th century a historical museum, the Museo di San Giacomo, 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.
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.