St. Julian's, Malta

{{redirect|St Julians|the electoral district in Wales|St Julians, Newport}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Saint Julian's | native_name = San Ġiljan | native_name_lang = mt | official_name = | other_name = Il-Qaliet | settlement_type = [[Local councils of Malta|Local council]] | image_skyline = Malta-stjulians-hotels-207.jpg | image_caption = St. Julian's skyline in 2007 | image_flag = Flag of San Ġiljan.svg | image_shield = Coat of arms of St. Julian's (Malta).svg | etymology = | nickname = | motto = {{force singular}} ''Għal kull bżonn'' (For every need) | image_map = San Giljan in Malta.svg | map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|35|55|7|N|14|29|24|E|type:city_region:MT|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Malta}} | subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Malta|Region]] | subdivision_name1 = [[Eastern Region, Malta|Eastern Region]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Malta|District]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Districts of Malta#Northern Harbour District|Northern Harbour District]] | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | parts_type = Borders | parts_style = para | p1 = [[Gżira]], [[Pembroke, Malta|Pembroke]], [[San Ġwann]], [[Sliema]], [[Swieqi]] | leader_title = [[List of mayors of places in Malta|Mayor]] | leader_name = [[Albert Buttigieg]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Councils Election|url=http://www.electoral.gov.mt/elections/localcouncils|website=Electoral Commission Malta|access-date=19 April 2015|ref=electoralCommissionMalta}}</ref> | leader_party = [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|PN]] | unit_pref = Metric | area_total_km2 = 1.6 | area_note = | area_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_footnotes = | population_total = 14709 | population_as_of = Jul. 2024 | population_footnotes = <ref name="nso_2012-2024">{{cite web |title=Mid-year population estimates by locality, sex and citizenship: 2012-2024 |url=https://nso.gov.mt/wp-content/uploads/Mid-year-population-estimates-by-locality-sex-and-citzenship_2012-2024.xlsx |publisher=National Statistics Office}}</ref> | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | population_demonym = Ġiljaniż (m); Ġiljaniża (f), Ġiljaniżi (pl) | timezone1 = [[Central European Time|CET]] | utc_offset1 = +1 | timezone1_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] | utc_offset1_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Malta|Postal code]] | postal_code = STJ | area_code_type = [[List of country calling codes|Dialing code]] | area_code = 356 | iso_code = MT-48 | blank_name_sec1 = [[Religion in Malta#Patron Saints|Patron saint]] | blank_info_sec1 = [[Julian the Hospitaller|St. Julian]] [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] | blank1_name_sec1 = [[Public holidays in Malta#Traditional Feasts|Day of festa]] | blank1_info_sec1 = Last Sunday of August Last Sunday of July | website = [https://www.stjulianslc.org.mt/ Official website] }}

'''Saint Julian's''' ({{langx|mt|San Ġiljan}}) is a town in the [[Eastern Region, Malta|Eastern Region]] of [[Malta]]. It is situated along the coast, north of the country's capital, [[Valletta]]. It is known for [[tourism]]-oriented businesses, such as [[hotel]]s, [[restaurant]]s and [[nightclub]]s which are centred mainly in an area known as [[Paceville]]. The population of St. Julian's was 14,709 in July 2024. This included 8.078 males and 6,631 females; 6,295 Maltese nationals and 8,614 foreign nationals.<ref name="nso_2012-2024"/>

==Etymology, feast and traditions== {{See also|Julian the Hospitaller}}

The town is named after its patron saint; Saint [[Julian the Hospitaller]] whereby he is the patron saint of hunters.<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Julian The Hospitaller |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-julian-the-hospitaller-145 |website=[[Catholic News Agency]] |access-date=17 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Before the reform of the Calendar of Saints, the memorial to St Julian was on 27 January. Nowadays, it is celebrated on 12 February,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Online |first1=Catholic |title=St. Julian - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online |url=https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=400 |website=Catholic Online |access-date=17 October 2018 |language=en}}</ref> although in Malta an additional feast, in the spirit of the many summer feasts around the island, is celebrated on the last Sunday of August.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-30|title=5 Facts You Didn't Know About St Julian's|url=https://revealmalta.com/places/5-facts-didnt-know-st-julians/|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Reveal Malta|language=en-US}}</ref>

A very particular competition connected with the town's feast is known as ''ġostra''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-17|title=What is the traditional game Il-Gostra?|url=https://www.airmalta.com/blog/malta/il-gostra-malta/|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Air Malta Blog|language=en-US}}</ref> This traditional competitive feat involves participants climbing and running as far as possible along a sloping greased pole which is suspended above the sea. The winner is the person to grab one of three flags dangling from the end of the pole, each flag representing a certain prize.<ref name="times2015-08-30">{{Cite web|title=St Julian's feast celebrated with gostra and hunting traditions|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/st-julians-feast-celebrated-with-gostra-and-hunting-traditions.582581|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Times of Malta|language=en-gb|date=30 August 2015}}</ref>

Another tradition connected with the feast of this locality is '''Musketterija''. Starting in 1982, this tradition sees Hunters firing blank cartridges filled with black powder from the roof of the parish church as the statue of the patron saint is brought out of the church. Many say this tradition is in line with the history of the locality which used to be hunting grounds for the Knights of Malta.<ref name="times2015-08-30"/>

==Location and areas== The town is located on Malta's east coast, north of Valletta and the neighbouring town of [[Sliema]]. It is subdivided into informal districts which are [[Paceville]], [[Ta' Ġiorni]], [[Tal-Għoqod]] and [[St. Andrew's, Malta|St Andrew's]], as well as the regions surrounding St George's Bay, Spinola Bay, [[Balluta Bay]], and Il-Qaliet cliffs. St Julian's is a tourist destination, especially popular during the summer months. [[File:PortomasoStJulians.jpg|thumb|Portomaso Tower with Spinola Bay in the foreground|alt=|left]] Malta's tallest building, the [[Mercury Tower]], is located in St. Julian's, along with the island's previous tallest building, the [[Portomaso Business Tower]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Portomaso Business Tower|url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/136726/portomaso-business-tower-saint-julians-malta|website=Emporis|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222073320/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/136726/portomaso-business-tower-saint-julians-malta|archive-date=22 February 2015}}</ref>

===History=== ====Old parish church==== [[File:SpinolaBayStJulians.jpg|thumb|Part of the Spinola Bay area of San Ġiljan|alt=]] The earliest documentary evidence of this church is of the pastoral visit of Bishop Tommaso Gargallo of 1601, which he says was built in 1580 and was dedicated to Saint Julian. In 1736, when Monsignor Alpheran de Bussan re-visited Saint Julian's, he noted that the locality was already known as ''Portus Sancti Juliani'', meaning "St Julian's port". In 1854, the 600 or so residents of Saint Julian's appealed to the church authority, in order to make it a parish. The chapter at [[Birkirkara]] protested strongly against such an application and consequently the application was denied; but it was granted at reapplication in 1891. [[Dun Guzepp Scerri]] became the first parish priest.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Storja {{!}} Parroċċa San Ġiljan|url=https://www.stjuliansparish.org/storja/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=www.stjuliansparish.org|date=9 July 2014 }}</ref>

The parish church was designed by Maltese architect [[Arturo Zammit]] and its first stone was laid in 1961. It was used for the first time in 1968 when it was still not fully built.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cassar|first=George|title=A Taste of the History, Culture and Environment of the Central Region of Malta|publisher=Kite Group|year=2019|isbn=9789995750671|location=Malta|pages=69}}</ref> The church welcomed [[Pope John Paul II]] on his first visit to Malta on 27 May 1990.<ref>{{Cite web|title=To the representatives of Malta's scientific, cultural and artistic life at St. Julien Church in Sliema (May 27, 1990) {{!}} John Paul II|url=http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/1990/may/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19900527_sliema.html|access-date=2020-08-21|website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>

The [[Millenium Chapel]] designed by Maltese architect [[Richard England (architect)|Richard England]] was inaugurated in 2000. It houses a meditation garden inaugurated in May 2018 as a refuge for contemplation and tranquility right in the heart of the entertainment Zone of [[Paceville]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=President inaugurates meditation garden at Millennium Chapel - The Malta Independent|url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-08-28/local-news/President-inaugurates-meditation-garden-at-Millennium-Chapel-6736195512|access-date=2020-08-21|website=www.independent.com.mt}}</ref> Built on the initiative and run by Fr Hilary Tagliaferro, this church is run by [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] clergy through the Millenium Chapel Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Watch: Meditation garden to open at Paceville's Millennium Chapel|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/watch-meditation-garden-to-open-at-pacevilles-millennium-chapel.686668|access-date=2020-08-21|website=Times of Malta|date=13 August 2018 |language=en-gb}}</ref> [[File:Paceville The Millenium Chapel 1.jpg|thumb|Millenium Chapel in Paceville]]

Until the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, St. Julians was a very peaceful coastal town known for its Latin architecture such as the [[Spinola Palace, St Julian's|Spinola Palace]] and greenery surrounding it. Moreover, Spinola Bay was characterized by its fishermen and farmers dwelling the countryside.

It has seen one of the largest infrastructure developments on the island with many old houses being demolished to construct blocks of apartments. In 2020 plans to develop a tourist Ferry point within Balluta Bay have been met with public concern and protests by individuals, local council and NGOs.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Castillo|first=Eric|title="Stop hogging our seas" Balluta Bay objectors tell Fortina ferry group|url=https://movimentgraffitti.org/en/news/details/267/-stop-hogging-our-seas-balluta-bay-objectors-tell-.htm|access-date=2020-08-21|website=movimentgraffitti.org|date=July 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Spinola Palace==== [[File:Royal Army Medical Corps; Hospital in Malta Wellcome L0025687.jpg|thumb|right|Spinola Palace in around 1906]] {{Main|Spinola Palace, St Julian's}} Because of fear of attacks by Muslims,{{who|date=December 2022}} the northern coastal area remained undeveloped until the diminished attacks after the [[Great Siege of Malta]] in 1565. The building of Spinola Palace, coming as it does in 1688, is to be regarded as the stepping stone for the coastal reclamation of San Ġiljan. The palace, together with the surrounding gardens, was built by Fra [[Paola Raffaele Spinola|Paolo Raffaele Spinola]] for the public entertainment as stated in the inscription above the [[portico]]. The palace was enlarged in 1733 through the efforts of Fra [[Giovanni Battista Spínola]], successor to his uncle as rector and Curator of the Abbazia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Spinola Palace - St. Julians|url=https://restoration.gov.mt/en/otherprojects/ongoingprojects/Pages/Spinola-Palace---St--Julians.aspx|access-date=2020-08-31|website=restoration.gov.mt|language=en}}</ref> During the French occupation of these islands in 1798, St Julians was the first town in Malta to be conquered by French troops led by General [[Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois|Claude Henri Vaubois]] who led the French forces into Spinola Bay.

==Notable places in St. Julian's==

=== Bays === [[File:Bahía de Spinola, San Julián, isla de Malta, Malta, 2021-08-25, DD 14.jpg|thumb|Spinola Bay]] *[[Balluta Bay]] *Spinola Bay [[File:Balluta Buildings 08.jpg|thumb|Balluta Buildings]]

* St. George's Bay *St. Julian's Bay

=== Notable places and locations === [[File:Palacio Dragonara, San Julián, isla de Malta, Malta, 2021-08-25, DD 11.jpg|thumb|Palazzo Dragonara]] [[File:Marina Portomaso, San Julián, isla de Malta, Malta, 2021-08-25, DD 09.jpg|thumb|Marina Portomaso]] *[[Balluta Buildings]] *[[Palazzina Vincenti]] *[[Palazzo Dragonara|Dragonara Point]] *Il-Qaliet *[[Paceville]] *[[Portomaso Business Tower|Portomaso]] *[[Mercury Tower]] *[[Ta' Giorni]] *Villa Rosa *Wied Ħarq Ħamiem *Wied tal-Balluta *Love Statue by [[Richard England (architect)|Richard England]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=The love statue in Saint Julians {{!}} HeartOfMalta.com|url=https://www.heartofmalta.com/en/malta/guide/the-love-statue-saint-julians.aspx|access-date=2020-08-21|website=www.heartofmalta.com}}</ref> *[[Villa Leoni]] *[[Villa Priuli]] *[[Villa Blanche, St Julian's|Villa Blanche]] *[[Villa Cassar Torreggiani]] *[[Saint George's Tower]] *Monument of [[Ċensu Tabone]]

=== Religious monuments and churches === [[File:Iglesia de las Carmelitas, San Julián, isla de Malta, Malta, 2021-08-24, DD 36.jpg|thumb|Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] * Statue of St. Julians in Triq il-Kbira * Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Xatt ta' Spinola * Church of the Immaculate Conception in Triq San Gorg * Statue of the Assumption in Triq Lapsi * Niche of the Immaculate Conception in Telgha ta' Birkirkara * Church of the Madonne of Good Council in Triq il-Knisja * Church of Santa Rita * Millenium Chapel * Poor Clares' Monastery * Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Carmelite Convent) * Convent of the Sacred Heart of Jesus School

== Local council == The local council is made up of the following members:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mayor and Councillors|url=https://localgovernment.gov.mt/en/lc/StJulians/Pages/The-Local-Council/Mayor-and-Councillors.aspx|access-date=2020-08-31|website=localgovernment.gov.mt|language=mt}}</ref>

* Guido Dalli (Mayor) * Clayton Luke Mula (Deputy Mayor) * Adrian Domenic Ellul * Martin John Sultana * Patricia Camilleri * John Agius * Rita Dimech Portelli * Sean Gauci

==Notable events== [[File:St. Julians Bay Malta - panoramio (2).jpg|thumb|View of the port from the [[InterContinental]] Malta]] *St Julian's feast is held on the last Sunday of August. *[[Battle of Malta poker tournament]] *Trafford Mersey Debrief

==Sports== St. Julian's is represented by the football team [[Melita F.C.]], formed in 1933. Their greatest honour in Maltese football to date is their 4–0 victory over neighbours [[Sliema Wanderers]] in the [[Maltese Cup]] final in 1939. In recent years, Melita have also competed in the [[Maltese Premier League]] and presently compete in the 3rd tier of Maltese football in the newly formed National Amateur League.

Waterpolo is the sport that brings people to this town. [[Neptunes WPSC]], the local Waterpolo team has been in the top of Maltese Waterpolo league tables since it was established in 1929.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Neptunes WPSC » Club Honours|url=https://neptuneswpsc.com/the-club/club-honours/|access-date=2020-08-31|website=neptuneswpsc.com}}</ref> The club enjoys well equipped training facilities situated along the beach front.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Neptunes Water polo & Swimming, Malta sports facilities|url=http://www.malta.com/en/attraction/sport-fitness/waterpolo/st-julian-s/neptune-s-water-polo-swimming|access-date=2020-08-21|website=www.malta.com}}</ref> Nearby [[San Giljan A.S.C.|San Giljan A.S.C]] has also been a strong player on the local scene with consecutive title wins as well as winners of the league in 2015.

Squash is also a common sport to play in St. Julian's.

Post football season beverage competitions are also very popular.

==Notable people== *[[Roberta Metsola]], president of the [[European Parliament]] *[[Emma Muscat]], singer from one of Malta's wealthiest families, represented Malta in the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2022]] *[[Roberta Bajada]], writer

==See also== *[[Manwel Dimech Bridge]] *[[St. Julian's Choral Group]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.lc.gov.mt/Page.aspx?catid=50&pid=184&lid=1 St Julian's local council] English language homepage of St Julian's local council *[https://www.sangiljanasc.com/ List of monuments in St. Julian's] *[https://neptuneswpsc.com/ Neptumes WPC website] *[https://www.sangiljanasc.com/ San Giljan Waterpolo Club website] *[https://localgovernment.gov.mt/en/lc/StJulians/Pages/default.aspx St Julians Local Council] *[https://www.findit.com.mt/en/directory/1996/0/6/restaurants.htm Restaurants in St Julians]

[[Category:St. Julian's, Malta| ]] [[Category:Towns in Malta]] [[Category:Local councils of Malta]]