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Senglea

Senglea
L-Isla
Città Invicta, Civitas Invicta
City and Local council
From top: Skyline, typical street, Parish Church, Gardjola, Land Front
From top: Skyline, typical street, Parish Church, Gardjola, Land Front
Flag of Senglea
Flag
Coat of arms of Senglea
Coat of arms
Motto: Civitas Invicta (Belt Qatt Mirbuħa)
(Unconquered City)
Isla in Malta.svg
Coordinates: 35°53′16″N 14°31′1″E / 35.88778°N 14.51694°E / 35.88778; 14.51694Coordinates: 35°53′16″N 14°31′1″E / 35.88778°N 14.51694°E / 35.88778; 14.51694
Country  Malta
Region South Eastern Region
District Southern Harbour District
Borders Cospicua
Government
 • Mayor Joseph Casha (PL)
Area
 • Total 0.2 km2 (0.08 sq mi)
Population (March 2014)
 • Total 2,784
 • Density 14,000/km2 (36,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Senglean (m), Sengleana (f), Sengleani (pl)
Isolan (m), Isolana (f), Isolani (pl)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code ISL
Dialing code 356
ISO 3166 code MT-20
Patron saint Marija Bambina
Christ the Redeemer
Day of festa 8 September
Third Sunday of June
Website Official website

Senglea (Maltese: L-Isla [ˈlɪslɐ]), also known by its title Città Invicta (or Civitas Invicta), is a fortified city in the South Eastern Region of Malta. It is one of the Three Cities in the Grand Harbour area, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa, and has a population of slightly below three thousand people. The city's title Città Invicta was given because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. The name is Senglea since the grandmaster who built it, Claude de la Sengle, gave this city a part of his name.

The island on which Senglea lies was joined by a land bridge to Cospicua during the time of the Knights of St. John and as a result, it became peninsular in shape. During the time of the Knights of St. John, Senglea was also used as a hunting area, and was known as L'Isola di San Giuliano.

In 1311 St. Julian's church or chapel was founded in Isola. This was the first building to be constructed on what later became Senglea. On 8 May 1552 the foundation stone of Fort St.Michael was laid. Work on the fort, which was designed by Architect Pedro Pardo, was completed in 1553. Construction of walled town Senglea took place during the following decade. The area, which had until the 1550s been known as Isola di San Giuliano or Isola di San Michele, was given city status by Grand Master Claude De La Sengle and was named after him.

Senglea played an important role in the Siege of Malta in 1565 and remained unconquered. The city was given the title Civitas Invicta (meaning "Unconquered City") by Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette. In 1581 Senglea became a Parish dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady. The donation of the statue of Our Lady, popularly known as "Il-Bambina", is estimated to have occurred in 1618. Many inhabitants of the city were killed in an outbreak of plague which affected Malta in 1676.


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Wikipedia

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