Senglea (Malta) - Maritime Festival - Marija Bambina 2010

The east side of the Grand Harbour in Malta is characterised by a number of promontories and creeks that, since time immemorial, have been found ideal for sheltering sea craft and ships. When the Knights of Malta established themselves in Birgu (Vittoriosa) they used the adjacent promontory for hunting. That promontory was Isola di San Giuliano, called Isla by the Maltese. Over time the need was felt to fortify Isla since it could be used by invaders to attack Birgu.

This led Aragonese Grand Master Juan De Homedes to erect Fort St. Michael at the promontory's base during 1552-53. His successor, Grand Master Claude de la Sengle (00:48) surrounded Isla with formidable bastions within which the city took shape that was named Senglea in his honour. Senglea was declared a Parish in 1581 dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady, or "Marija Bambina". The church that was later to house the venerated statue of Marija Bambina was completed in 1580. It was destroyed by enemy bombing during World War II and replaced by the present Basilica in 1957 (07:51). The statue of Marija Bambina (08:04) was donated to Senglea in 1618 after it was found floating in the Adriatic Sea. The statue of the Redeemer (Redentur) (08:42) is also venerated in the Basilica by people from all around the islands of Malta and Gozo.

A statue of the Virgin Mary was erected in the heart of Senglea in 1813 (07:36) in gratitude for having delivered the city from the plague. Three related processions are still held in Senglea every year since then to this day -- one with the statue of Marija Bambina on her feast day on 8 September, one with the statue of the Redeemer and one with the statue (nowadays the relic) of St. Roque.

8 September is an important date in Malta's history. On this day Malta celebrates one of its National Days -- Victory Day ("Vitorja") -- commemorating the lifting of the Great Siege by the Ottomans in 1565 and the end to bombing that devastated Malta (particularly the regions surrounding Grand Harbour) when Italy surrendered to the Allies in 1943 during World War II. A heavily contested and colourful regatta (boat races) is held in Grand Harbour annually on this day with the participation of rowers from all the towns that surround Grand Harbour and other Maltese ports (06:42).

Music:
Alfonso X El Sabio: Cantigas
00:00 Extract "El Dragon" (Pneuma - Eduardo Paniagua)
03:10 Extract "Mui Grandes Noit' E Dia" (Dufay Collective & Vivien Ellis)

06:40 Monteverdi : "Sonata sopra Sancta Maria" from "Vespro della Beata Virgine" (John Eliot Gardiner)

Category:

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[tfar1959]

Thanks

[maltaavfc]

extremely nice video!!

[rmangion]

great video :) hehe I am there playing clarinet with the band at 09:35

[acmilan174]

VERY NICE VIDEO . GOOD JOB

[stevo728822]

Marvellous video

[Sengleaboy]

Well done my friend, very professional - Viva L-Isla!

[ilpaggi]

Great video. Good Job

[cracps69]

Very Very nice video. From Victor Caruana a Senglean