Fgura

Towns (Malta)
name = Fgura(Il-Fgura)
coa = Fgura coa.svg
motto =
official_name = Il-Fgura
inhabitants_name = Fguri (m), Fgurija (f), Fgurin (pl)
other_names = (code: FGR)

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latitude = 35°52 '21"
longitude = 14°31 '22"
area = 1.1
population_total = 11,258 (November 2005)
population_density = 9,852
borders = Cospicua, Paola, Tarxien, Żabbar, Żejtun
saint = Our Lady of Mount Carmel
feast = 2nd Sunday of July
mayor = Darren Marmarà (MLP)
website =

Fgura (English: Figura) is a town in Malta. It is one of the 68 local councils.

On the surface, Fgura appears to be a new town built around the 1960s. But its outward appearance belies ancient origins. The town has prehistoric roots - there are several tombs in the area - and there is evidence to suggest it was a settlement in Phoenician times. The evidence is that between the 28th of October and the 21st of December 1948, 6 Phoenician tombs were found in Figura - mostly in Liedna Street. These tombs go back to the 3rd or 4th century B.C. These tombs were in irregular shapes and human skeletons, remains of animals, pottery and other Bronze materials and objects were found. In Fgura, a street was named 'Triq is-Sejba Punika' - in English 'Phoenician Discovery Street' - in honour of this historic finding.

Figura, lying inland from the Three Cities, was influenced by the growth of the dockyards, especially after World War II. Its northern fringes are bordered by the Cottonera Lines of fortifications while it merges with the towns of Żabbar to the south and Tarxien to the West. Today, Fgura has one of the highest population densities in the country. It expanded recently on the outskirts of the Grand Harbour area and was one of the fastest-growing towns of Malta. Fgura has grown to become one of the foremost commercial areas in the central-southern part of the island.

The coat-of-arms of Fgura is made up of a red horizontal stripe containing three golden 5-pointed stars, centred across a white background. The patron saint of Fgura is Our Lady of Mount Carmel and an annual feast in her honour is celebrated on the second Sunday of July. Fgura also has one of the most peculiar shaped churches in Malta, built in the shape of a tent.

History

Before Fgura became a parish, it was a suburb of Tarxien. Before World War II, Fgura was a rural village which consisted of a few scattered farm-houses, of which there remains practically nothing, situated near the new church, (picture found above), near the new school and in St. Thomas Street. There were 20 families and the people of this town were farmers and, like many other towns, they were superstitious but they lived and worked together.

A vocal and living tradition speaks of the town's name. In fact one can say the following:

1) When the scholar E.B. Vella compared "Fgura" with the Maltese word "Figura" - in English "Figure" and;

2) Sometimes the old of this town would stop in front of a niche, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and they would call the statue "il-figura". And of course by time this term changed and became Fgura.

Places of interest

Fgura United Football Club

Fgura United is the local football club and it officially represents the locality of Fgura in Maltese football.

Il-Monument tas-Salib (The Cross Monument)

There is a monument in Hompesch Street, which is known as 'Il-Monument tas-Salib' by the Fgura residents (The Cross Monument). This monument was inaugurated by Minister Ugo Mifsud Bonnici in February 1990, exactly when Fgura celebrated its 25th anniversary when it became a parish in 1965. This monument was designed by the sculptor Ġanni Bonniċi and built by apprentices of the Ġlormu Cassar School.

This monument was placed on the exact spot where a small church dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel was built in 1790 instead of a niche that was there for a long time. As a remembrance of this niche a new niche was built in Carmel Street.

The Monument's Shape

The monument rests on four columns and they have a significant meaning. Three of these columns represent the towns which Fgura is adjacent to:- Paola, Tarxien and Żabbar {limits from these places were taken in order to form the Parish of Fgura in 1965}. The other one represents the Parish of Fgura. At the base of this monument there are 4 gravestones. They represent the 25th anniversary since Fgura became a parish, the inauguration of this monument and one is a copy of another gravestone that was situated at the side of a church that was built in 1844. This gravestone was written in Latin and it told the story of this church.

Reggie Miller and Bishop Redent Gauci Gardens

Fgura also has two main Gardens, one of them is exactly Reggie Miller Gardens and it could be found at the back of the church. This was inaugurated on the 28th of March 1976 by Minister Lorry Sant. The Garden is named after Reggie Miller, a trade unionist and the founder of the General Workers' Union, presently one of the biggest unions in Malta. Originally there was a fish-pond and it was surrounded by big pebbles. There was also a sun dial designed by Paul Ignatius Micallef. After the Local Council of Fgura was set up, the mentioned council decided to change the area behind the church into a modern town square. This was performed through funds from central government in 1996. In the centre of the square a monument of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was erected.

A second garden, dedicated to Bishop Redent Gauci was inaugurated by Minister Lawrence Gonzi in the year 2000. The garden incorporates a multipurpose court, a club house, and a playing field.

George Stevens Square

It was Saturday, the 6th of September 1986, that Minister Lorry Sant inaugurated a monument named after George Stevens, co-founder of the Maltese Literary Society. This was done to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the foundation of this Society. The monument, which was placed in a square named after himself, was designed by sculptor Alfred Camilleri Cauchi and blessed by the then Parish Priest Father Guido Micallef O. Carm.Restoration of the monument dedicated to Gorg Stevens, and embellishment works in this square were performed in 2001, after which a re-inauguration ceremony was presided by President Guido de Marco.

Kummissjoni Festa Esterna (External Feast Commission)

The "External Feast Commission" July 16, or as it is better known in Maltese; "Kummissjoni Festa Esterna 16 ta' Lulju" is under the auspices of the Fgura Parish Church. This Commission was founded in the year 1993 under the auspices of Fr. Adrian Cassar Pulis O.Carm. Different activities are held during the year as a means of fund raising. These funds are spent on the expenses incurred in organizing the village feast on the second Sunday of July. The Village Feast of Fgura is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Today the Chairman of this commission is Fr. Renald Lofreda O.Carm. From the first year when this commission was founded till today the village feast in Fgura has been improving and becoming one of the most attractive festivals, not only due to the beautiful and unique street decorations but also the number of people that take part on the second Sunday of July.

This year the village feast will be held between the 7th and the 13th of July

Website: http://www.fgurakfe.comemail: [e-mail]

cout Group

The [http://www.fgurascouts.org Fgura Scout Group] formed in 1987 is a member of the South District of the Scout Association of Malta.

They currently have about 120 Uniformed Members in 4 Co-ed Sections. A beaver section (ages 5-7) a Pack section (ages 7-10), a Troop Section (ages 10-15), a Venture Unit ages (15-19) and a Rover Crew for older scouts. The Group also has a Band made up of Troop, Unit and Crew members and publishes an informative magazine.

Apart from the local and national activities, the Group also participates in overseas activities and frequently hosts the First Woodend Scout Group of Bristol-UK for their traditional exchange visits.

In 2005, 11 scouts and 1 leader attended EuroJam 2005 (European Jamboree) in Chelmsford, UK this year being the 100th anniversary of scouting they are planning to go to the 2007 World Scout Jamboree that will take place in Chelmsford, UK again and another group will be attending Kanderjam in Switzerland. This year they will be participating also in the annual JOTI/JOTA with the amateur radio callsign 9H3FSG.

Band Club

*Our Lady of Carmel Society and Band Club (L-Għaqda Mużikali u s-Soċjali Madonna tal-Karmnu) was founded in 1985. Its premises in Hompesch Road were inaugurated in 1991.Teaching of musical instruments for free is one of the main goals of this band club, whilst the Band takes active part in the organisation of all local festivities throughout the year, and which reach their climax during the second week of July, when the titular feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated. It can be reached at http://www.bandafgura.com [http://www.bandafgura.com link Banda tal-Fgura]

Interesting Places

*Blandun Valley (at Blandun Valley Road)
*Carmelities Convent (at Whitefriars Street)
*Cross Monument (at Hompesch Road)
*Fgura Primary School (at Carmel Street)
*Gallerija Shopping and Entertainment Complex (at Zabbar Road)
*Hompesch Arch (at Hompesch Road)
*Our Lady of Monte Carmel's Parish Church (at Hompesch Road)
*Polverista Gate (at Cospicua Road)

Main Roads & Squares

*Triq Bormla (Cospicua Road)
*Triq Ħaż-Żabbar (Zabbar Road)
*Triq Hompesch (Hompesch Road)
*Triq il-Karmnu (Carmel Street)
*Triq is-Sur (Bastion Street)
*Triq San Tumas (St Thomas Street)
*Triq A.M. Valpelga (A.M. Valpelga Street)
*Vjal Kottoner (Cottoner Avenue)
*Triq id-Dejma (Dejma Road)
*Pjazza Kunsill tal-Ewropa (European Council Square)
*Pjazza Reggie Miller (Reggie Miller Square)
*Pjazza l-Isqof Redent Gauci (Bishop Redent Gauci Square)
*Pjazza Gorg Stevens (George Stevens Square)
*Pjazza Guzeppi Gauci (Joseph Gauci Square)

External links

* [http://www.fguraparish.org Fgura Parish]
* [http://www.fgurascouts.org Fgura Scouts]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/fgurakfe KUMMISSJONI FESTA ESTERNA 16 TA' LULJU FGURA A.D.1993 | Il-festa tal-Madonna tal-Karmnu tigi iccelebrata fit-2 Hadd ta' Lulju ] at www.freewebs.com

Coordinates: coord|35|52|21|N|14|31|22|E|type:city

Triq Velleran