Marsa
Encyclopedia
Marsa is a town in the south of Malta
, with a population of 5,389 people as of November 2005. The name Marsa means "the harbour".
s 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 Phonecians. Remains of Roman
constructions have been found close to the town. It is thought a foundry of the Order of the Knights of St. John may have been located at Marsa.
During the Siege of Malta
in 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
.
A new port was constructed in the 1860s under the rule of the British Empire
. It was intended that a town would be built at the site under the name Albert Town, named after Prince Albert
. By 1890 the town had a population of over 600 people, but it was later abandoned. A new town at the site emerged in the 20th century, taking the name Marsa after the creek.
In July 2009 a plan to regenerate the harbour area was announced. This is intended to turn the site into a recreational area and is planned include the construction of a marina
with space for 170 boats.
Marsa Race Track, a one-kilometre long horse racing
track, was constructed in 1868 and remains in use.
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...
, with a population of 5,389 people as of November 2005. The name Marsa means "the harbour".
History
Marsa is located on the Marsa Creek, a body of water formed by the flow of water from wadiWadi
Wadi is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some cases, it may refer to a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain or simply an intermittent stream.-Variant names:...
s 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 Phonecians. Remains of Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
constructions have been found close to the town. It is thought a foundry of the Order of the Knights of St. John may have been located at Marsa.
During the Siege of Malta
Siege of Malta (1565)
The Siege of Malta took place in 1565 when the Ottoman Empire invaded the island, then held by the Knights Hospitaller .The Knights, together with between 4-5,000 Maltese men,...
in 1565, Marsa was used as a camp by troops of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. 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
Giovanni Francesco Abela
Giovanni Francesco Abela was a Maltese of noble birth who in the early 17th century wrote an important work on Malta, Malta illustrata con le sue Antichità ed altre Notizie ....
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
National Museum of Archaeology, Malta
The National Museum of Archaeology is a a Maltese museum of prehistoric artifacts, located in Valetta. It is managed by Heritage Malta.History=...
in Malta's 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...
.
A new port was constructed in the 1860s under the rule 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...
. It was intended that a town would be built at the site under the name Albert Town, named after Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
. By 1890 the town had a population of over 600 people, but it was later abandoned. A new town at the site emerged in the 20th century, taking the name Marsa after the creek.
In July 2009 a plan to regenerate the harbour area was announced. This is intended to turn the site into a recreational area and is planned include the construction of a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
with space for 170 boats.
Facilities
Marsa is home to the Malta Shipyards. It also houses one of the two power stations which provide most of the electricity to the Maltese Islands.Marsa Race Track, a one-kilometre long horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
track, was constructed in 1868 and remains in use.