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Senglea (L- Isla)
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This small city stands on a narrow promontory which protrudes into
Grand Harbour between two creeks. The bare terrain was fortified in 1551 by
Grand Master Claude de la Sengle, who also built the city which bears his
name to this day. The Maltese prefer its original name of L-lsla, i.e. the
island.
During the 1565 Siege, Senglea was protected by Fort St. Michael on
its landward side, and by Fort St. Angelo on its eastern flank. The
exemplary part played by its people during the Siege prompted Grand Master
La Valette to honour it by the title Citta Invicta - the Unconquered City.
The Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Victories, built in 1743, was
destroyed in January 1941 during a severe air attack on the aircraft
carrier Illustrious which was berthed in the nearby creek.
Work on the new church was finished in 1957 when it was
reconsecrated. This parish church was elevated to the rank of 'Basilica' in
1921 by Pope Benedict XV.
The artistic statue of the Bambina, i.e. the Young Virgin,
represents the Nativity of Our Lady. The feast day falls on September 8th,
which happens to be the same day the Turks were defeated in 1565 and again
when Italy surrendered to the Allied Forces in 1943. The people attribute
these victories to the Virgin's intercession, and hence, the feast is
popularly called il-Vittorja, the Victory.
Like its sister cities, Senglea suffered heavily during the last
war. More than 75% of its buildings were destroyed. The new city which rose
again has now about 4,000 inhabitants, most of whom are connected, in one
way or another, with the shipyards on its coastline.
Safe Haven Garden, at Senglea Point, offers a superb view of Fort
St. Angelo and of the Grand Harbour in general. The well-known stone
vendette on the Bastion-point served as a look-out post to guard the
harbour entrance. The sculptured figures of an eye and an ear on the window
lintels are the symbols of vigilance.
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