Cospicua
Encyclopedia
Ċittà Cottonera, Ċittà Cospicua, Cospicua is a double-fortified harbour city on the Mediterranean island of Malta
. It is the largest of the Three Cities
. It was also given a title as Citta' Cottonera, but erroneously the title is now used to define the whole region. It is situated between the other two towns which make up Cottonera which are Vittoriosa (Birgu) and Senglea
(Isla). These three towns form part of the area surrounding the Grand Harbour
and are found on the eastern side of the capital city Valletta
. Its population is of 5,642 (Nov 2005).
and Isla
, were built by the Knights of Malta
. Construction began in 1638 but was not completed for another 70 years. In 1722, Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari
declared Bormla a city and in view of its strong bastions named it Città Cospicua.
Its maritime facilities started during ancient times around the Phoenician era c. 600 B.C. In 1776 the Order of St. John
started to construct a dockyard
, which was to play a vital role in the development of this city. During the reign of the British Empire
, the navy made extensive use of the dockyard, particularly during the Crimean War
, the First World War and during the years preceding the Second World War.
As Malta became an independent country, the city's dockyard frequently became a bone of contention between the General Workers Union, to which most of its employees belonged, and subsequent governments. In the early 21st century the dockyard was substantially downsized under the governance of the Nationalist Party
after it was found that the cost of operating the site was responsible for around 25% of Malta's national debt. Plans are now underway for the transformation of an area of the dockyard into a commercial and tourist centre.
Cospicua is also known as Belt l-Immakulata or the City of the Immaculate, referring to the Immaculate Conception
or the Virgin Mary, who is the patron
of the city.
. Cospicua is known for its celebration of Good Friday
, which began in the 18th century and is a popular tourist attraction. A statue of the Resurrection of Jesus is traditionally carried across the city's streets to symbolize Jesus' triumph over death. Smaller statues are also exhibited in the city.
The people of Cospicua started the famous and artistic first 'Mejda ta' L-Appostli', which literally means, the table of the Apostles. It consists of a display showing the food that was eaten during the Last Supper of Jesus
and the 12 Apostles. It also consists of different stories of the Bible
, made with coloured rice and salt, on plates (these are done separately).
Cospicua's football team is the St. George's F.C.
, thought to be the oldest on the island. Documentation shows that by 1885 there were already three football teams at Cospicua, which merged to form the current club in 1890. Cospicua is also famous for its Regatta team, which was one of the first. This team has won 16 shields (titles) overall, second only to Senglea.
The 1st Cospicua Scout Group as formed in 1917. The St. George's Band Club was officially founded in 1862. Its first name was 'La Banda dei Cospicuani' but when Giorgio Crispo Barbaro, Marquis of St. George became first president of the Band, the name was changed to the present one.
(former Prime Minister
and leader of the Labour Party), Ugo Mifsud Bonnici
(former Minister and also a former President of Malta
, Dom Mintoff
(former Prime Minister
and leader of Labour Party) and Erin Serracino Inglott (linguist
and author), whom a school in the city is named after.
of the Maltese islands took place in 1901. Cospicua (listed as Bormla in census documents) is recorded as having a population of 12,148 people. This figure remained relatively stable until 1931, but in 1948 had reduced to 4,822. After rising to 9,095 by 1957 and 9,123 in 1967, the city's population has fallen in every subsequent census. By 2005 it had reduced to 5,657 people.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. It is the largest of the Three Cities
Three Cities
The Three Cities is a collective description of the three fortified cities of Cospicua, Vittoriosa, and Senglea on the Island of Malta, which are enclosed by the massive line of fortification created by the Knights of St John, the Cottonera Lines....
. It was also given a title as Citta' Cottonera, but erroneously the title is now used to define the whole region. It is situated between the other two towns which make up Cottonera which are Vittoriosa (Birgu) and Senglea
Senglea
Senglea is a fortified city in the east of Malta, mainly in the Grand Harbour area. It is one of the Three Cities in the east of Malta, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa. The city of Senglea is also called Civitas Invicta, because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great...
(Isla). These three towns form part of the area surrounding the Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
and are found on the eastern side of the capital city Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
. Its population is of 5,642 (Nov 2005).
History
Cospicua has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Prior to the 18th century it was known as Bormla, a name which is still in use. Its lines bastions, constructed to protect the town and its neighbours BirguBirgu
Birgu is an ancient city in Malta. It played a vital role in the Siege of Malta in 1565. Its population stood at 2,633 in December 2008.-History:...
and Isla
Senglea
Senglea is a fortified city in the east of Malta, mainly in the Grand Harbour area. It is one of the Three Cities in the east of Malta, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa. The city of Senglea is also called Civitas Invicta, because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great...
, were built by the Knights of Malta
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. Construction began in 1638 but was not completed for another 70 years. In 1722, Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari
Marc'Antonio Zondadari
Fra' Marc'Antonio Zondadari, from Siena, was the 65th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta, from 1720, after the death of Fra Ramon Perellos de Roccaful, till 1722. Although his reign only lasted for two years, he was popular with the Maltese...
declared Bormla a city and in view of its strong bastions named it Città Cospicua.
Its maritime facilities started during ancient times around the Phoenician era c. 600 B.C. In 1776 the Order of St. John
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
started to construct a dockyard
Dock (maritime)
A dock is a human-made structure or group of structures involved in the handling of boats or ships, usually on or close to a shore.However, the exact meaning varies among different variants of the English language...
, which was to play a vital role in the development of this city. During the reign of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, the navy made extensive use of the dockyard, particularly during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, the First World War and during the years preceding the Second World War.
As Malta became an independent country, the city's dockyard frequently became a bone of contention between the General Workers Union, to which most of its employees belonged, and subsequent governments. In the early 21st century the dockyard was substantially downsized under the governance of the Nationalist Party
Nationalist Party (Malta)
The Nationalist Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Labour Party. It was founded by Fortunato Mizzi in 1880 as the Anti-Reform Party, opposing taxation decreed by the British colonial authorities and measures to Anglicise the educational and the...
after it was found that the cost of operating the site was responsible for around 25% of Malta's national debt. Plans are now underway for the transformation of an area of the dockyard into a commercial and tourist centre.
Cospicua is also known as Belt l-Immakulata or the City of the Immaculate, referring to the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
or the Virgin Mary, who is the patron
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the city.
Culture
Cospicua celebrates its feast which is held annually on 8 December in honour of the Immaculate ConceptionImmaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
. Cospicua is known for its celebration of Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
, which began in the 18th century and is a popular tourist attraction. A statue of the Resurrection of Jesus is traditionally carried across the city's streets to symbolize Jesus' triumph over death. Smaller statues are also exhibited in the city.
The people of Cospicua started the famous and artistic first 'Mejda ta' L-Appostli', which literally means, the table of the Apostles. It consists of a display showing the food that was eaten during the Last Supper of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and the 12 Apostles. It also consists of different stories of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, made with coloured rice and salt, on plates (these are done separately).
Cospicua's football team is the St. George's F.C.
St. George's F.C.
St. George's Football Club is a Maltese football club from the city of Cospicua in the Mediterranean island of Malta, believed to be the oldest club on the island...
, thought to be the oldest on the island. Documentation shows that by 1885 there were already three football teams at Cospicua, which merged to form the current club in 1890. Cospicua is also famous for its Regatta team, which was one of the first. This team has won 16 shields (titles) overall, second only to Senglea.
The 1st Cospicua Scout Group as formed in 1917. The St. George's Band Club was officially founded in 1862. Its first name was 'La Banda dei Cospicuani' but when Giorgio Crispo Barbaro, Marquis of St. George became first president of the Band, the name was changed to the present one.
Tourist attractions
- Bir Mula Heritage - an ethnography, social history, anthropology museum and cultural venue
- Immaculate Conception Parish Church
- St. Theresa Church
- Chapel of St. Paul
- Chapel of St. Margaret
- Fortifications
- The Georgian Architecture at the Dock area
- Kottoner 98FM premises (Dar it-Tama) (built by a Knight in the late 16th century).
- 8 December feast, and the Immaculate Conception's Statue
- Good Friday celebrations.
- Easter Sunday and the statue of the Resurrection
- St.Helen's Gate, also known as Vilhena Gate, which forms part of the Santa Margherita lines
Famous Cospicua residents
Cospicua was the birthplace of Karmenu Mifsud BonniciKarmenu Mifsud Bonnici
Carmelo Bonnici was the Prime Minister of Malta from 1984 to 1987. He is a member of the Labour Party. He studied law at the University of Malta and is known to be an expert in industrial relations law.-Early politics:Mifsud Bonnici was from a family that staunchly supported the Partit...
(former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malta
The Prime Minister of Malta is the Head of Government of Malta.-Establishment of the office and developments:The office of "Head of Ministry" was created as soon as Malta was granted autonomous government in 1921. The 1921 constitution was suspended twice before being revoked...
and leader of the Labour Party), Ugo Mifsud Bonnici
Ugo Mifsud Bonnici
Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici was the fifth President of Malta from 1994 to 1999.-Early life, education, and family:He was born in Cospicua as the son of Professor Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici LL.D and Maria Ross. He was educated at the Lyceum and the Royal University of Malta. He graduated as a Bachelor of...
(former Minister and also a former President of Malta
President of Malta
The President of Malta is the constitutional head of state of Malta.The President is appointed by a resolution of the House of Representatives of Malta for a five year term, taking an oath to "preserve, protect and defend" the Constitution....
, Dom Mintoff
Dom Mintoff
Dom Mintoff is a Maltese politician, journalist and architect, who served as leader of the Labour Party from 1949 to 1984, Prime Minister of Malta from 1955 to 1958 and again, post-Independence, from 1971 to...
(former Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malta
The Prime Minister of Malta is the Head of Government of Malta.-Establishment of the office and developments:The office of "Head of Ministry" was created as soon as Malta was granted autonomous government in 1921. The 1921 constitution was suspended twice before being revoked...
and leader of Labour Party) and Erin Serracino Inglott (linguist
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
and author), whom a school in the city is named after.
Bormla Local Council
- Joseph Scerri (mayor, PL)
- Alison Zerafa (vice-mayor, PL)
- Ray Balzan (PL)
- John Vella (PL)
- James Cauchi (PN)
- Pablo Cachia Belli (PL)
- Rodrick Mamo (PL)
Population
The first recorded censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of the Maltese islands took place in 1901. Cospicua (listed as Bormla in census documents) is recorded as having a population of 12,148 people. This figure remained relatively stable until 1931, but in 1948 had reduced to 4,822. After rising to 9,095 by 1957 and 9,123 in 1967, the city's population has fallen in every subsequent census. By 2005 it had reduced to 5,657 people.
Zones in Bormla
- Dock No. 1
- Fortini ta' Feliċ
- Fuq Verdala
- Kortina San Nikola
- San Ġwann t'Għuxa
- Tal-Hawli (historically part of Cospicua - since 1994 erroneously put under the jurisdiction of the Vittoriosa Local Council)
- Fuq San Pawl
- Fuq Santa Margerita
- Fuq Verdala
- Ta' Santa Liena
- Tal-Foss
- Xatt ta' Bormla