Senglea is the smallest of the Three Cities in the Cottonera. This less than a mile long and fairly new peninsula is situated between Galley Port (or Dockyard Creek) on the Cospicua side and the French Creek. Its sharp projection at the far end into the Grand Harbour is colloquially known as il-Ponta. However the popular name for this city derived from Italian l'Isola (L-Isla) meaning island, which basically indicates its geographic structure, nearly cut off by two hills Mill Hill and St. Julian's Hill.

After my struggle I emerged undefeated (Quo pugna vi invicta consido)

Although a peninsula it was referred to as Isola meaning island, the majority of its perimeter being surrounded by sea except the narrow fragment adjacent to the City of Cospicua. The local topography supplemented by the beauty of nature made Isola the favourite recreational site amongst the Knights of the Order of St. John. During his reign as Grand Master Fra Philipo Villers de l'Isle Adam planted large quantities of olive trees to make this stretch of land an ideal hunting ground. The Spanish Grand Master Fra Juan d'Homedes was fascinated by the pulchritude of the grove and as a matter of fact Casa Magistrale, the Grand' Master's resort was built here, he also initiated a program to fortify the peninsula. The activity of the Order's Arsenal and fleet generated employment with many workers were seeking accommodation in this region.

In 1553 the French Grand Master Fra Claude de La Sengle transformed this promontory into a fortified city still bearing his name, Senglea. In older to facilitate access the city was built on a grid plan, this arrangement proved very practical and was later adopted for the construction of the Capital City of Valletta. Families were encouraged by the Grand Master to dwell in Senglea by offering land and houses at nominal prices. The Fort dominating the city entrance was named St. Michael as it was commissioned on 8 May 1552, the Archangel's feast day. Sheer bastion, the palaces of the Captains of the Galleys and the store which housed the chain used to block the Galley Port during the Great Siege are existing structures coupled with the Order's naval activities.

During the 1565 Siege Senglea was ravaged by furious attacks launched by the Muslims who failed to conquer the city. Hence this city was bestowed with the title of Invincible City. Victory was declared on 8 September, the feast day of the Nativity of Our Lady, the city's Patron.

In 1596 the local mariners contributed for the erection of the Church and Convent overlooking Grand Harbour dedicated to Our Lady of Safe Haven. Governor Mayor Sir Henry F. Bourverie confiscated the convent to serve as a hospital during the 1837 plague.

The French Occupation of 1798 brought misery and hardships on the Maltese including the inhabitants of Senglea. A number of Sengleans were accused of committing treason against France and were consequently shot. Maltese soldiers positioned on Corradino Heights bombarded French contingents stationed in Senglea, this resulted in the destruction of seventy houses in the locality. The French Control was short lived and they were forced to leave Malta in 1800.

The British took over and gradually influenced the inhabitants' way of living. The British Admirality confiscated the site and wharves underneath Senglea bastions facing Corradino Heights to be converted into a naval dockyard. In order to suit Admiralty requirements, the configuration of the said bastions was altered. Established local shipyards and shipbuilders had to move to the new port at Marsa, at that time the shipbuilding industry was undergoing a period of transition, consequently the majority of these yards became redundant. The ship yards of the Sengleans Gregorio Mirabitur and Lorenzo and Salvatore German and many others provided for the local economy. The Senglean sculptor Vincenzo Bonnici built one hundred and fifty ship figureheads in his workshops in Victory Street, Senglea.

During World War II the city was shattered by enemy air bombardments and was reduced to a mere shell, many lives and possessions were lost. The Imposing Basilica dedicated to Our Lady of Victories was destroyed during brutal air strikes such as those on HMS lllustrious berthed in French Creek on 16 of January 1941. Air raids were a daily occurrence and the exodus of many Sengleans was inevitable. King George VI visited the devastated City in 1943 and perceived the catastrophe. On September 8 1943 Italy surrendered to the allies, a naval messenger delivered this news to the Parish Priest while the procession with the statue of Our Lady of Victory reached the Marina. Once again the city of Senglea established itself invincible. [back to top]

Grand Master Juan D'Homedes

The Aragonese Knight Juan D'Homedes was elected Grand Master on 20 October 1536. The new Grand Master was a man of strong character and fought bravely for the Order, unfortunately he lost an eye in the Great Siege of Rhodes. In 1551 a fleet of ninety galleys and fifty galiots with ten thousand men on board under the command of corsair Dragut sailed towards Malta to conquer the Island. The Order was not prepared to meet this force and D'Homedes lost no time in disposing the army to the best advantage. Although outnumbered the Knights managed to keep the Turkish warships away from Grand Harbour. Consequently the majority of the Turkish Fleet anchored at St. Paul's Bay and the rest manoeuvred into Mgarr Harbour, Gozo. The Gozitans were forced to surrender and six thousand inhabitants were taken as slaves and the invaders pillaged the Castle and the nearby villages. In 1552 there were rumours of another invasion from the Turks, instead the Turkish Army attacked Tripoli and took it over.

The Order was aware that Malta would be the next target. Grand Master Juan D'Homedes planned to improve the defence of the island by enlarging Fort St. Elmo, building Fort St. Michael at Isola, and strengthening the bastions at Borgo. This feared attack did not take place thus the Knights afforded to send an expedition to the States of Barbary that resulted in a total failure.

Grand Master D'Homedes died at the age of eighty on 6 September 1553 and was buried in the vault of St. Angelo.

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Grand Master Claude De La Sengle

Claude de La Sengle a French noble and Grand Hospitaller of the Order and Ambassador at the Court of Pope Julius III was elected Grand Master in 1553. La Sengle ordered the building of a strong bastion to be built at Isola Point within which a new city began to take shape. To honour her founder and benefactor, this city bears the Grand Master's name - Senglea. The building stone was taken from the ditches dug outside the bastions to ensure a speedy operation. This Grand Master commissioned the Italian engineer Nicolo Bellavanti to supervise work in connection with the strengthening of the fortifications.

In 1555 a hurricane struck the Maltese Islands and many houses and properties were damaged. The Galley Squadron in the Harbour was devastated, four galleys capsized and sunk causing the death of six hundred men. This was a great blow for Malta as no warships were available to defend in case of an eventuality. The Order of St John was not in a position to replace the lost warships mainly due to financial constraints. La Sengle contributed from his personal finances for the construction of a new galley he named San Claudio. Assistance came from Pope Paul IV, King Philip II of Spain, the Grand Prior of France Francois De Loriane and the Grand Prior of St. Gilves.

Claude de La Sengle maintained good relations with France and Spain as these two nations were at loggerheads with each other and were rivals for the supremacy of Sicily and the control of the Western Mediterranean. The Viceroy of Sicily, Giovanni De Vaga demanded the Order of St. John to conquer Mehdia in Africa, this demand was later rejected. In retaliation the Viceroy stopped the exportation of wheat to Malta. To mitigate this unpleasant situation, the assistance of the Palermitan engineer Vincenzo Vogo was sought to modernize the windmills, meanwhile the Pope intervened and sent enough wheat to meet demands.

The Prior of France De Loraine, a relative of the king of France, made pressure on La Sengle to hand him the command of the fleet. To sustain good relations with France La Sengle assigned De Loraine Captain of the Galley Squadron. This was an unwise decision opposed by the Italian and Spanish Knights, knowing that De Loraine lacked naval experience. In 1557 the Galley Squadron under the command of De Loriane was defeated and humiliated by the Turkish Fleet. This was a great blow for Malta and an embarrasment for the Grand Master.

After this incident La Sengle became ill and weak and tried to comfort himself by hunting at Boschetto. The Grand Master respected his subjects and never enacted any kind of injustice or hardship on the Maltese. Claude de La Sengle passed away on 18 August 1557. The Order inherited all his treasures including 80,000 scudi. His Corpse was laid in the vault of St. Angelo and his heart was deposited in the Carmelite Church of the Annunciation near Boschetto at Rabat. [back to top]

Important Dates and Landmarks in Senglea's and Malta's History.

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Santwarju Marija Bambina

Kif tixhed l-iskrizzjoni li tinsab fuq il-faċċata tal-Knisja, dan it-tempju huwa ddedikat lit-twelid tas-Sinjura tagħna Marija. Dan it-tempju ġie mibni bħala tifkira tal-Vittorja li l-Maltin kienu għamlu fuq l-Imperu Ottoman fl-Assedju ta' Malta fl-1565. Dan huwa monument ħaj ta' din il-ġrajja hekk importanti fl-Istorja ta' pajjiżna.

Il-bini u l-istruttura oriġinali ta' dan it-tempju kien iċken minn dak li hu fil-preżent. Dan it-tempju kien ġie oriġinarjament disinjat mill-arkitett Vittorio Cassar, iben il-magħruf Ġirolamo Cassar. Infatti l-ewwel bini ta' dan it-tempju ġie fi tmiemu fis-sena 1581, f'liema sena din il-knisja ġiet dikjarata Parroċċa.

Aktar tard dan it-tempju ġie imkabbar taħt id-direzzjoni ta' l-arkitett Tomaso Dingli mis-sena 1591 'il quddiem fejn baqa' jwettaq aktar modifikazzjonijiet fl-istruttura tal-knisja.

Minħabba li fit-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija l-Isla sofriet ħsarat kbar, mill-attakki ta' l-għadu, fosthom dan it-empju, il-knisja reġgħet ġiet mibnija (145-19550 wara li kważi ġiet imwaqqa' għal kollox f'dawn l-attakki.

Minħabba l-importanza u l-prestiġju tagħha fl-1786 din il-knisja ġiet mgħotija t-titlu ta' knisja Kolleġġjata u aktar tard fl-1921 ġiet elevata għad-dinjita' ta' Bażilika.

F'din il-knisja tinsab l-aktar kollezzjoni antika u rikka ta' teżori reliġjużi li hawn f'Malta. Dawn inġabru matul iż-żminijiet. F'din il-kollezzjoni insibu pitturi mill-artisti Sengleani Francesco Zahra u Tomaso Madiona u pitturi oħra ta' Giaquinto, Erardi u Cali'. Mhux l-inqas minnhom, żewġ statwi minquxa fl-injam li jirrapreżentaw lit-Trnita' Mqaddsa u l-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni.

Xogħol ieħor li jixraqlu attenzjoni u adorazzjoni, u li jsebbaħ dan it-tempju, huwa s-sett ta' 16 -il bust maħduma mill-irħam abjad li jirrapreżentaw lill-appostli u lill-evanġelisti u li qegħdin fuq il-pilastri ewlenin tan-Navi tal-Knisja. Mhux inqas minn dawn huwa l-artal maġġur mgħotti b'kappa bażilikali imserrha fuq bażi ta' l-irħam u l-bronz.

Biswit din il-knisja jinsab l-Oratorju ddedikat lill-Kurċifiss li huwa magħruf għad-devozzjoni li jgawdi ma' Malta kollha. Barra li jgawdi sbuħija ta' arkitettura u skultura fil-ġebel, f'dan l-oratorju nsibu żewġ pitturi ta' Mattia'Preti u erba' oħra ta' Francesco Zahra. Iżda l-aktar attrazzjoni speċjali f'dan l-oratorju, hija n-niċċa fejn tinsab esposta l-istatwa ta' Ġesu' Redentur li hija imwegħa u adorata b'qima kbira mill-poplu Malti u Għawdxi kollu.

Ir-Rev. Arċipriet
Uffiċċju Parrokjali, Triq San Lawrenz, Isla [back to top]

Knisja San Ġiljan Isla - Tagħrif fil-Qosor

Hija knisja b'700 sena ta' storja meta Malta kienet taħt id-dominju ta' l-Aragoniżi, inbniet għall-ewwel darba fl-Isla, knisja ċkejkna taħt it-titlu ta' San Ġiljan u li magħha kellha ukoll ċimiterju fl-1311.

1539	Kavallier Fra Diego Perez De Malfreise ħa ħsieb li minn flusu jwaqqa u jibni mill-ġdid il-knisja fuq disinn u pjanti tiegħu stess.
1565	Matul l-Assedju l-Kbir din il-kappella serviet bħala Knisja għal servizzi reliġjużi u pridki, post ta' faraġ u ta' refuġju għall-popolazzjoni lokali li kienet qed tiġi ssedjata, għall-kavallieri u għas-suldati.
1693	L-agħar terrimot ta' storja jolqot lill-Malta, din il-knisja iġġarrab ħsarat kbar.
1699	Ġie deċiż li l-knisja ta' San Ġiljan titwaqqa' għal kollox minħabba li ma' kinitx fi stat tajjeb.
1712	Tlesta għal kollox il-bini mill-ġdid tal-knisja fuq il-pjanta ta' l-arkitett Lorenzo Gafa'.
1941	Fl-aħħar gwerra dinjija il-bini ta' madwar il-knisja ta' San Ġiljan waqa' kollu. Il-knisja nnifisha baqgħet sħiħa, sofriet blast tal-bombi biss.
2001	Sar restawr estensiv tal-knisja minn ġewwa.

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Kunvent San Filippu fl-Isla

Meta wieħed jagħti daqqa t'għajn lejn l-istruttura ġeografika ta' l-ISLA, malajr jintebaħ li l-knisja parrokjali ta' l-ISLA mibnija fuq it-tarf tan-naħa tal-Forti San Mikiel. Inħasset il-ħtieġa li tinbena knisja oħra imdaqqsa, fuq l-għolja msejjħa tal-mitħna, lejn il-Gardjola, biex dawk li jgħixu lejn dik ix-xaqliba, jkunu jistgħu jintlaħqu u moqdija spiritwalment. Fl-1596, naraw il-bini ta' l-ewwel knisja tal-Madonna tal-Portu Salvu, nbniet bil-ħeġġa u bil-ġenerożita tal-Parruċċani.

Fl-1669 l-oratorjani ħass il-bżonn ta' knisja u ta' kunvent akbar u għalhekk huma ħadu il-mezzanin u biċċa art tta' ħdejn il-knisja u minflok bdew jibnu kunvent akbar. Din damet tinbena sa l-1690 li saret forma ta' salib latin. waħda mir-raġunijiet li l-bini ħa daqsshekk fit-tul kienet il-marda tal-pesta li laqtgħet lill-Malta fl-1675.

Fl-ISLA, minn popolazzjoni ta' qrib l-4000 mietu 1885. Fost dawn il-vittmi kien hemm 19 il-qassis fosthom il-kappillan, Dun Franġisk Azzopardi.

Ta' min jgħid ukoll bl-istorja tal-knisja ta' San Marija tal-Portu Salvu (Madonna tal-Port) kienet tiġi organizzata tiġrija tar-Regatta fit-2 ta' Lulju sa mill-bidu ta' l-1596.

Ir-rettur tal-knisja ta' San Filippu fl-1596 kien iqassam il-paljijiet lir-rebbieħa minn fuq it-taraġ tal-knisja, faċċata tal-Port il-Kbir. waqt l-air raids fuq l-HMS Illustriuos f'Jannar ta' l-1941, l-Isla sofriet ħsarat enormi, il-Bażilika ta' Marija Bambina, intlaqtet diversi drabi u saret ħerba.

Kien miraklu li l-knisja Portu Salvu San Filippu intlaqtet ftit li xejn.

Fis-sena 1958 il-kunvent San Filippu u l-knisja tal-Portu Salvu għaddew f'idejn il-komunita' tal-Ġiżwiti, taħt it-tmexxija tas-superjur Patri Ġużepp Galea S. J.

L-altar prinċipali tal-kappella fuq in-naħa tal-lemin tal-presbiteru huwa l-uniku altar f'Malta ddedikat lill-Madonna ta' Guadalupe. Il-kopr ta' Ġesu' msallab huwa xogħol fl-injam tassew artistiku. [back to top]

Sehem l-Isla fir-Regatta
Kitba tas-Sur Joseph Serracino

It-tradizzjoni tat-tiġrijiet tad-dgħajjes fil-portijiet tagħna hija marbuta stroikament ma' l-Isla. Fil-fatt nafu b'żewġ tiġrijiet popolari li huma intimament marbutin marbutin l-Isla u li t-tnejn ġew organizzati mill-barklori u s-sajjieda Sengleani.

Ħafna storiċi huma tal-fehma li l-ewwel tiġrija tad-dgħajjes li saret fil-portijiet tagħna kienet dik tal-Portu Salvu li taf il-bidu tagħha għall-ħabta ta' l-1639. Din it-tiġrija kienet issir fit-2 ta' Lulju, f'Jum il-festa tal-Viżitazzjoni ta' Marija Santissima wara nofsinhar, u kellha rabta kbira mal-knisja tal-Portu Salvu ta' l-Isla, magħrufa aktar fost is-Sengleani bħala l-Knisja ta' San Filippu.

It-Tiġrija tal-Portu Salvu

Il-korsa ta' din it-tiġrija kienet itwal minn dik tal-Vitorja u t-tluq tagħha kien isir mill-bokka tal-Port il-Kbir sal Ponta ta' l-Isla. Il-prokuraturi ta' l-imsemmija knisja kienu jassistu għal din it-tiġrija qrib it-Torri d'Orsi (fejn illum hemm ir-Rikażli) u s-sinjal tat-tluq kien isir b'tir ta' masklu. Għal din it-tiġrija popolari, l-imħallfin u l-fizzjali tal-qorti kienu imorru in forma l-Ponta ta' l-Isla biex minn hemm jaraw it-tiġrija u wara jqassmu l-palji tal-ħarir lir-rebbieħa ta' kull kategorija fost il-briju kbir tan-nies miġbura. Interessanti ħu l-fatt, li din it-tiġrija kienet tiġbed ukoll l-attenzjoni tal-Gran Mastru li ta' kull sena kien jaqsam bil-gondla għall-Isla, u wara t-tiġrija kien jistieden lill-uffiċjali u lill-ministri tiegħu għar-riċeviment f'Casa Magistrale.

Meta f'nofs is-seklu 18 din it-tiġrija waqfet għal xi snin minħabba l-għadd kbir ta' bastimenti Maltin sorġuti fil-Port, xi whud bdew jaħsbu li din it-tradizzjoni antika kienet se tispiċċa għal kollox, iżda meta reġgħhet bdiet issir, in-nies tħeġġet mill-ġdid u f'qasir żmien reġgħet kisbet dik il-popolarita' kbira li kienet tgawdi qabel fost in-nies tal-Port il-Kbir. Jingħad li din it-tiġrija ġiet fi tmiemha fl-aħħar snin tas-seklu 19.

Bosta mill-familji Sengleani li kienu joqogħdu fl-inħawi tal-Ponta u li kienu jiffrekwentaw il-knisja ta' San Filippu kienu onoraw dan it-titlu (Portu Salvu) billi waqqfu monument żgħir tal-ġebel b'kwadru bix-xbieha tal-Madonna tal-Portu Salvu taħt il-mina (Sully Port) li tagħti għal Triq is-Sirena u li minnha taqbad it-taraġ biex tinżel il-Ponta.

Jingħad li sa qabel l-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija (1914 - 1918) din ix-xbieha tal-Madonna dejjem kienet tkun imżejna bil-fjuri, u x-xemgħa qatt ma naqset minn quddiemha lejl u nhar. Skond ix-xjuħ tagħna, sat-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija (1939-1945) f'jum il-festa tal-Portu Salvu, din in-niċċa kienet għadha tiżżejjen bid-damask u madwarha kienu jqegħdu l-qsari tal-fjuri.

Iżda l-akbar festi li jfakkru x-xjuh tagħna jeħduna lura sa qabel il-Gwerra l-Kbira, meta n-niċċa u l-mina kienu jiżżejnu bid-damask, u l-pjazzetta f'ras Triq is-Sirena kienu jżejnuha bl-antinjoli, u filgħaxija kien isir il-ħruq tas-suffarelli u l-mixgħela tal-fjakkoli fuq is-swar tal-Gardjola u s-swar li jdawru dawn l-inħawi. Jiftakru wkoll li f'jum il-festa wara nofs in-nhar kienet issir il-Gostra wara t-trunċieri u l-Arblu ta' Mejju, l-Ponta, biex imbagħad filgħaxija, fuq artal imżejjen bil-fjuri għall-okkażjoni fil-pjazza ta' quddiem il-Ġnien tal-Gardjola, kienet tingħata l-Barka Sagramentali. Jingħad ukoll, li xi benefatturi kienu jġibu l-Banda ta' Indri biex tferraħ u tallegra lin-nies li kienet tattendi bi ħġarha. [back to top]

It-Tiġrija tal-Vitorja

Fl-ewwel snin tal-ħakma Ingliża f'Malta kienu jsiru bosta tiġrijiet tad-dgħajjes fil-Portijiet tagħna. Peress li ħafna minn dawn it-tiġrijiet kienu jsiru fuq bażi parrokjali xi whud minnhom saru ftit drabi biss, waqt li oħrajn li kienu aktar popolari kellhom ħajja itwal. Fit-8 ta' Settembru 1822, il-ħabrieka Sengleani organizzaw għall-ewwel darba t-Tiġrija tal-Vitorja kienet organizzata bħala parti mill-festi esterni titulari tagħhom. Mid-dehra din it-tiġrija kienet organizzata aħjar mit-tiġrijiet l-oħra, għaliex fiha, barra li setgħu jieħdu sehem dgħajjes minn lokalitajiet oħrajn tal-Port, barra l-Plaju ts-soltu, ir-rebbieħa kienu se jingħataw premju ta' flus ukoll.

F'din it-tiġrija kienu jsiru erba' korsi, tal-Ferilli (Dgħajjes tas-Sajd) b'erbat imqadef, Dgħajjes tal-Pass b'żewġt imqadef u b'erbat imqadef u tal-Kajjikki (tax-xogħol) b'erbat imqadef. Mal-qalba tas-seklu 20, bdiet issir il-korsa tad-Dgħajjes tal-Midalji li oriġinalment kienu Dgħajjes tal-Pass u bdew jissejjħu hekk għaliex minflok premju ta' flus kienu jinagħtaw Midalji tal-Fidda. Bejn wieħed u ieħor fl-istess żmien ġew introdotti wkoll il-Kajjikki Fancy - Kajjiki ħfief b'erbat imqadef li ħadu post it-tqal.

M'hemmx l-iċken dubju li l-Isla dejjem ipparteċipat fiż-żewġ tiġrijiet tad-dgħajjes bl-aħjar ekwipaġġi li kellha, u li dejjem kienet fost il-protagonisti fejn jidħlu r-rebħ ta' paljijiet. Mal-qalba tas-seklu 20, l-Isla kienet qawwa kbira fil-korsi l-kbar. B'danakollu kienet tissemma l-aktar għall-korsi tal-Ferrilli u tal-Kajjikki Fancy fejn it-taqtiegħa għar-rebħ tal-palju fiż-żewġ kategoriji dejjem kienet ma' Marsamxett li f'dik l-epoka kien jiddomina kull Regatta.

L-Isla kienet avversarju aħrax ta' bormla u l-Birgu fid-Dgħajjes tal-Midalji u f' ta' bl-Erbgħa - żewġ distretti maghrufin ħafna għall-ekwipaġġi ta' ħila li kellhom u avversarji kbar ta' Marsamxett f'dawn il-kategoriji.

Bejn iż-żewġ Gwerer Dinjija, il-qaddiefa Sengleani rebħu xi paljijiet ta' l-ewwel iżda qatt ma' rnexxielhom jiddominaw xi kategorija għal bosta snin bħal ma għamlu l-Bormlizi u l-Vittoriosani.

Iżda r-rebħ tal-paljijiet fil-korsi tal-Ferrilli, Midalji u Kajjikki Fancy kienu ta' awgurju sabiħ biex is-Sengleani jkomplu jarmaw tajjeb l-opri tagħhom bl-aħjar ekwipaġġi li kellhom u jissieltu għal kull palju sa' l-aħħar qadfa. Din id-determinazzjoni għenithom biex fl-1937 u fl-1938, l-aħħar żewġ edizzjonijiet ta' qbel il-Gwerra trebbaħhom il-korsa bl-Erbgħa - korsa li kienu ilhom ma' jirbħuha mill-1904.

Wara l-gwerra, id-distrett Senglean kien il-protagonist ewlieni ta' bosta edizzjonijiet. Mill-1951 sa l-1966, l-ekwipaġġi Sengleani rebħu 7 darbiet l-Aggregate Shield u waqqfu rekord fil-kors tad-Dgħajjes tal-Midalji ta' 7 rebħiet konsekuttivi (1951-1957). L-istess suċċess reġgħu kisbuh bejn l-1989 sa l-2002, meta matulhom il-qaddiefa Sengleani mhux biss iddominaw dawn it-tigrijiet iżda rnexxielhom ukoll jirbħu disa' darbiet l-Aggregate Shield, u fl-1992 iwaqqfu rekord gdid bir-rebħ tal-ħames paljijiet ta' l-ewwel. [back to top]