Victoria, Malta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Victoria | |
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Motto: Città Vittoria |
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| Official name: | Ir-Rabat Għawdex |
| Inhabitants' name: | Rabtin t'Għawdex |
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| Latitude: | 36°2 '37" N |
| Longitude: | 14°14 '35" E |
| Population total: | 6,414 (Nov 2005) |
| Borders: | Fontana, Għasri, Kerċem, Xagħra, Xewkija, Żebbuġ |
| Patron saint: | St. Mary, St. George |
| Day of festa: | 15 August (St. Mary); July (St. George) |
| Website: | gozo.com/rabat/ |
- For Rabat on Malta Island, see Rabat, Malta
Victoria (also called Rabat) is the capital of Gozo, an island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The town has a total population of 6414 (Nov 2005), by population is the largest locality in Gozo.
Victoria is the name given in 1887 by the British government on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, at the request of the Bishop of Malta, Mons. Sir Pietro Pace. However it is often still referred to by Gozitans by its old name, Rabat. The area around Victoria, situated on a hill near the centre of the island, has been settled since Neolithic times.
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[edit] The Citadella
In the heart of Victoria lies the Citadella (Citadel), which has been the centre of activity of the island since possibly Neolithic times, but is known to be first fortified during the Bronze Age approximately around 1500 BC. It was later developed by the Phoenicians and continued into becoming a complex Acropolis by Roman times.
The north side of the Citadel dates back to the Aragonese domination period, while the south flank, overlooking Victoria, was re-constructed under the Knights of St. John, namely between 1599 and 1603 The massive defensive stone walls of the fortifications rise above the town and were built by the Knights to protect the village communities from foraging corsairs attempting to take slaves and threatened invasion of Moslem forces fighting Christendom.
Within its walls lies a fine 17th century baroque Cathedral designed by Lorenzo Gafà, the Maltese architect who also built the Cathedral of Mdina. It is said that it lies on the site where a Roman temple dedicated to Juno once stood. It is most famous for the remarkable trompe l'oeil painting on its ceiling, which depicts the interior of a dome that was never built.
[edit] Sports
Victoria is also home of three successful football clubs: S.K Victoria Wanderers, Victoria Hotspurs F.C and Oratory Youths.
[edit] Feasts of Victoria, Gozo
Two feasts are celebrated in Victoria, the island of Gozo, the main feast dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of Gozo celebrated in St. George's Basilica in the heart of Victoria and another one dedicated to St. Mary, devoted in its Cathedral situated in the centre of the Citadel.
[edit] Victoria Main Roads
- Pjazza Indipendenza (Indipendence Square)
- Pjazza Santu Wistin (St Augustine Square)
- Pjazza Fuq it-Tomba (Tomba Square)
- Triq Anton Tabone (Anton Tabone Road)
- Triq Enriku Mizzi (Enrico Mizzi Road)
- Triq Dingli (Dingli Road)
- Triq Fortunato Mizzi (Fortunato Mizzi Road)
- Triq Gedrin
- Triq Għajn Qatet
- Triq Ġużè Ellul Mercer (G. Ellul Mercer Street)
- Triq id-Dawwara
- Triq il-Kappuċċini
- Triq il-Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II (Pope John Paul II Road)
- Triq ir-Repubblika (Republic Road)
- Triq l-Ewropa (Europe Road)
- Triq l-Imgħallem
- Triq Mejlak (Mejlak Road)
- Triq Monsinjur S. Lanzon (Mgr. S. Lanzon Road)
- Triq Ninu Cremona (Ninu Cremona Street)
- Triq Putirjal
- Triq Sant' Orsla (St Ursola Road)
- Triq Sir George Borg Olivier
- Triq Ta' Kerċem (Kercem Road)
- Triq Tomba (Tomba Street)
- Triq Vani (Vani Road)
- Triq Wara s-Sur (By the Bastion Street)
- Triq Wied il-Lunzjata (Lunzjata Valley Road)
[edit] External links
| edit | Local Councils of Malta |  |
|---|---|---|
| Malta Island | ||
| Attard | Balzan | Birgu (Vittoriosa) | Birkirkara | Birżebbuġa | Bormla (Cospicua) | Dingli | Fgura | Floriana | Għargħur | Għaxaq | Gudja | Gżira | Ħamrun | Iklin | Isla (Senglea, Città Invicta) | Kalkara | Kirkop | Lija | Luqa | Marsa | Marsaskala (Wied il-Għajn) | Marsaxlokk | Mdina (Città Notabile) | Mellieħa | Mġarr | Mosta | Mqabba | Msida | Mtarfa | Naxxar | Paola (Raħal Ġdid) | Pembroke | Pietà | Qormi (Città Pinto) | Qrendi | Rabat | Safi | San Ġiljan (St. Julian's) | San Ġwann | San Pawl il-Baħar (St. Paul's Bay) | Santa Luċija | Santa Venera | Siġġiewi (Città Ferdinand) | Sliema | Swieqi | Tarxien | Ta' Xbiex | Valletta | Xgħajra | Żabbar (Città Hompesch) | Żebbuġ (Città Rohan) | Żejtun (Città Beland) | Żurrieq | ||
| Gozo Island | ||
| Fontana | Għajnsielem | Għarb | Għasri | Kerċem | Munxar | Nadur | Qala | Rabat (Victoria) | San Lawrenz | Sannat | Xagħra | Xewkija | Żebbuġ | ||
