Editing Senglea (section)

==History ==
[[File:Calvert Jones, The Dockyard at Senglea, Malta 1846.jpg|thumb|left|Dockyard at Senglea in 1846, [[calotype]] by [[Calvert Jones]]]]
[[File:Victory Street Senglea 1880.jpg|thumb|left|Victory St in Senglea, 1880]]
During the time of the Knights of St. John, Senglea was also used as a [[hunting]] area, and was known as ''L'Isola di San Giuliano''.

In 1311 St. Julian's church or chapel was founded in Isola. This was the first building to be constructed on what later became Senglea. On 8 May 1552 the foundation stone of Fort St. Michael was laid. Work on the fort, which was designed by Architect Pedro Pardo, was completed in 1553. Construction of walled town Senglea took place during the following decade. The area, which had until the 1550s been known as Isola di San Giuliano or Isola di San Michele, was given city status by Grand Master [[Claude De La Sengle]] and was named after him.<ref name=Council>{{cite web|url=http://www.islalocalcouncil.com/historicalinfo.htm|title=Historical information|publisher=Senglea Local Council|access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref>

Senglea played an important role in the [[Great Siege of Malta]] in 1565 and remained unconquered. The city was given the title ''Civitas Invicta'' (meaning "Unconquered City") by Grand Master [[Jean Parisot de Valette]]. In 1581 Senglea became a Parish dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady. The donation of the statue of Our Lady, popularly known as "Il-Bambina", is estimated to have occurred in 1618. Thousands of inhabitants of the city were killed in [[1675–76 Malta plague epidemic|a plague epidemic in 1676]].<ref name=Council />

In 1798, Senglea was involved in the [[French occupation of Malta|blockade against French forces]], who were ousted from Malta in 1800.<ref name=Council /> The city narrowly escaped being hit by [[1813–14 Malta plague epidemic|another plague in 1813]]; a statue of Our Lady was erected in the city's centre as a sign of gratitude.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statue of the Madonna and Child|url=http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/00691.pdf|website=[[National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829224855/http://www.culturalheritage.gov.mt/filebank/inventory/Chapels%20and%20Niches/00691.pdf|archive-date=29 August 2017|date=27 August 2012}}</ref>

The [[Basilica of the Nativity of Mary, Senglea|parish church]] was bestowed with the title of Basilica by [[Pope Benedict XV]] in 1921. Senglean-born Ignazio Panzavecchia was elected as the first [[Prime Minister of Malta]] in the first Self Government Constitution in the same year. Because of his ecclesiastical status he decided not to take up the position. Following Panzavecchia's refusal [[Joseph Howard (Prime Minister)|Joseph Howard]] was appointed as Prime Minister.<ref name=Council />

During the [[Second World War]] Senglea suffered heavy bombardments which devastated most of the city and killed many of its citizens. On 16 January 1941 a blitz by the [[Luftwaffe]] on [[HMS Illustrious (87)|HMS ''Illustrious'']], docked at the nearby Corradino, caused 21 fatalities and destroyed most of the city's buildings including the Basilica.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110213/letters/young-senglea-priest-among-victims-of-illustrious-blitz.349974|last=Mangion|first=Fabian|title=Young Senglea priest among victims of Illustrious blitz|work=[[The Times of Malta]]|date=13 February 2011}}</ref> [[King George VI]] visited the devastated city on 20 June 1943.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G7ogAAAAMAAJ&q=senglea+king+george+1943|last=Douglas-Hamilton|first=James|title=The air battle for Malta: the diaries of a fighter pilot|publisher=[[Mainstream Publishing]]|year=1981|page=112|isbn=0-906391-20-2}}</ref>

The newly built Basilica was consecrated by Archbishop Sir [[Mikiel Gonzi]] on 24 August 1957. The following day the Basilica resumed its normal functions after almost 16 years and the statue of Marija Bambina was placed inside its new "temple" amongst huge celebrations.

[[Pope John Paul II]] visited Senglea in May 1990. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Luftwaffe bombing of the city, a monument which honours the local victims of both World Wars was unveiled besides the Basilica on 5 September 1991. The first Local Council of Senglea was formed after an election on 3 March 1994. The first mayor of the city was Stephen Perici.<ref name=Council />

The [[Italy|Italian]] city of [[Cassino]] became a [[Town twinning|twin city]] with Senglea in 2003.<ref name=Cassino>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20020826/local/senglea-and-montecassino.168349|last=Abela|first=Joseph|title=Senglea and Montecassino|work=The Times of Malta|date=26 August 2002}}</ref> In 2010 Senglea won a [[European Destinations of Excellence]] award for aquatic tourism.<ref name=Council />