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Marsamxett Harbour (), historically also referred to as Marsamuscetto, is a natural harbour on the island of
Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
. It is located to the north of the larger
Grand Harbour The Grand Harbour ( mt, il-Port il-Kbir; it, Porto Grande), also known as the Port of Valletta, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been substantially modified over the years with extensive docks ( Malta Dockyard), wharves, a ...
. The harbour is generally more dedicated to leisure use than the Grand Harbour.


Description

The harbour mouth faces north east and is bounded to the north by Dragut Point and
Tigné Point Tigné Point is a peninsula in Sliema, Malta. The area was originally occupied by several fortifications and a British barracks complex, which were left derelict for many years, until the area was redeveloped in the early 21st century. The area ...
. Its northwest shore is made up of the towns of
Sliema Sliema ( mt, Tas-Sliema ) is a town located on the northeast coast of Malta in the Northern Harbour District. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, bars, dining, and café life. It is also the most densely po ...
, Gżira and Ta' Xbiex. The harbour then extends inland to
Pietà The Pietà (; meaning " pity", "compassion") is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus after his body was removed from the cross. It is most often found in sculpture. The Pietà is a specific for ...
and Msida. Off Gżira lies Manoel Island, now connected to the mainland by a bridge. The south eastern shore of the harbour is formed by the Sciberras peninsula, which is largely covered by the town of Floriana and the city of
Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 ...
. At its tip lies the 16th century
Fort Saint Elmo Fort Saint Elmo ( mt, Forti Sant'Iermu) is a star fort in Valletta, Malta. It stands on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour, and commands the entrances to both harbours along with Fort ...
. The Sciberras peninsula divides Marsamxett from the larger parallel natural harbour,
Grand Harbour The Grand Harbour ( mt, il-Port il-Kbir; it, Porto Grande), also known as the Port of Valletta, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been substantially modified over the years with extensive docks ( Malta Dockyard), wharves, a ...
. Along its partner the
Grand Harbour The Grand Harbour ( mt, il-Port il-Kbir; it, Porto Grande), also known as the Port of Valletta, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been substantially modified over the years with extensive docks ( Malta Dockyard), wharves, a ...
, Marsamxett lies at the centre of gently rising ground. Development has grown up all around the twin harbours and up the slopes so that the whole bowl is effectively one large
conurbation A conurbation is a region comprising a number of metropolises, cities, large towns, and other urban areas which through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban or industrially developed area. In most cas ...
. Much of Malta's population lives within a three kilometer radius of Floriana. This is now one of the most densely populated areas in Europe. The harbours and the surrounding areas make up Malta's
Northern Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a r ...
and Southern Harbour Districts. Together, these districts contain 27 of 68 local councils. They have a population of 213,722 which make up over 47% of the total population of the Maltese islands.


History

In 1551, Ottomans landed at Marsamxett and marched upon the Grand Harbour, but did not attack as they found strong defences built by the Order of Saint John. This skirmish was followed by an unsuccessful attack against
Mdina Mdina ( mt, L-Imdina ; phn, 𐤌𐤋𐤈, Maleṭ; grc, Μελίττη, Melíttē; ar, مدينة, Madīnah; ), also known by its Italian-language titles ("Old City") and ("Notable City"), is a fortified city in the Northern Region of Ma ...
, and successful sacking of Gozo and conquest of Tripoli. After this attack,
Fort Saint Elmo Fort Saint Elmo ( mt, Forti Sant'Iermu) is a star fort in Valletta, Malta. It stands on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour, and commands the entrances to both harbours along with Fort ...
was built to guard both Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour. A much larger Ottoman invasion came in 1565, in the
Great Siege of Malta The Great Siege of Malta ( Maltese: ''L-Assedju l-Kbir'') occurred in 1565 when the Ottoman Empire attempted to conquer the island of Malta, then held by the Knights Hospitaller. The siege lasted nearly four months, from 18 May to 13 September ...
. During the siege, the Ottoman fleet was based at Marsamxett, and cannons were stationed at Tigné Point in order to bombard Fort Saint Elmo. During the attack, the Ottoman admiral Dragut was killed by stray gunfire. The siege was eventually lifted and the Order and the Maltese emerged victorious. A new city was constructed on the Sciberras Peninsula, and was named
Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 ...
after the Grandmaster who commissioned it. The suburb of Floriana was later built outside the city, and it has now developed into a town in its own right. In 1592, a wooden quarantine hospital was built on Manoel Island, then known as ''l'Isola del Vescovo''. It was dismantled a year later, but a permanent
Lazzaretto A lazaretto or lazaret (from it, lazzaretto a diminutive form of the Italian word for beggar cf. lazzaro) is a quarantine station for maritime travellers. Lazarets can be ships permanently at anchor, isolated islands, or mainland buildings. ...
was built in its place in 1643, which was improved a number of times until its closure in 1929. Between 1723-33,
Fort Manoel Fort Manoel ( mt, Forti Manoel or ''Fortizza Manoel'') is a star fort on Manoel Island in Gżira, Malta. It was built in the 18th century by the Order of Saint John, during the reign of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, after whom it ...
was built on Manoel Island, while
Fort Tigné Fort Tigné ( mt, Il-Forti Tigné - Il-Fortizza ta' Tigné) is a polygonal fort in Tigné Point, Sliema, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John between 1793 and 1795 to protect the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour, and it is one of the ...
was built on
Tigné Point Tigné Point is a peninsula in Sliema, Malta. The area was originally occupied by several fortifications and a British barracks complex, which were left derelict for many years, until the area was redeveloped in the early 21st century. The area ...
in 1793. British barracks were also built on Tigné Point, but these have since been demolished. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, the British used Marsamxett, particularly Manoel Island, as a submarine base. The island was a stone frigate, referred to as HMS ''Talbot'' or HMS ''Phœnicia''. Fort Manoel saw use once again, and it was bombarded by Luftwaffe bombers causing much destruction. In 1977, the 1st (Maritime) Battery of the Armed Forces of Malta moved its base to
Hay Wharf Hay Wharf or Haywharf ( mt, Xatt it-Tiben) is a naval base in Marsamxett Harbour, in Floriana, Malta. The wharf has been the main base of the Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta since 1977, and a new facility was built between 2015 an ...
in Marsamxett. Sliema, Gżira, and Ta' Xbiex on the northern end of the harbour have seen a lot of development in recent years. Marsamxett Harbour is now mainly used for smaller watercraft when compared to Grand Harbour. There are a number of yacht marinas including at Msida and Manoel Island, a yacht yard, as well as tourist cruise boats which operate from Sliema. On 10 September 2006, during the Maltese round of the Aero GP series, a mid-air collision between two planes above the harbour caused the death of one of the pilots, Gabor Varga.


Gallery

Malta - Sliema - Tigné Point - Fort Tigné 01 ies (Triq il-Lanca) 01 ies.jpg,
Fort Tigné Fort Tigné ( mt, Il-Forti Tigné - Il-Fortizza ta' Tigné) is a polygonal fort in Tigné Point, Sliema, Malta. It was built by the Order of Saint John between 1793 and 1795 to protect the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour, and it is one of the ...

Sliema Malta - Sliema - Tigné Point (Triq San Bastjan) 01 ies.jpg,
Tigné Point Tigné Point is a peninsula in Sliema, Malta. The area was originally occupied by several fortifications and a British barracks complex, which were left derelict for many years, until the area was redeveloped in the early 21st century. The area ...

Sliema Malta - Sliema + Sliema Creek (MSTHC) 01 ies.jpg, Sliema Creek
Sliema Malta - Sliema (Triq Ix-Xatt (Gzira)) 01 ies.jpg, Sliema Harbour
Sliema Malta - Gzira - Manoel Island - Fort Manoel (Tigné Pedestrian Bridge) 01 ies.jpg, Manoel Island
Gżira Malta - Gzira - Triq Il-Forti Manoel - Yacht Yard (Triq Ix-Xatt (Sliema)) 01 ies.jpg, Manoel Island Yacht Yard
Gżira Malta - Gzira - Manoel Island - Fort Manoel (Ferry Sliema-Valletta) 02 ies.jpg,
Fort Manoel Fort Manoel ( mt, Forti Manoel or ''Fortizza Manoel'') is a star fort on Manoel Island in Gżira, Malta. It was built in the 18th century by the Order of Saint John, during the reign of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena, after whom it ...

Gżira Malta - Gzira - Manoel Island - Lazzaretto (St. Andrew's Bastion) 01 ies.jpg, Lazzaretto
Gżira Malta - Gzira - Manoel Island Yacht Marina (Ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex) 02 ies.jpg, Manoel Island Yacht Marina
Gżira Panoramic view of the Old Walled City of Valletta and its harbor. Malta, Mediterranean Sea.jpg, Lazzaretto Creek
Gżira and Ta' Xbiex Malta - Ta' Xbiex - ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex+ir-Rampa Ta' Xbiex (MSTHC) 01 ies.jpg, Ta' Xbiex Malta - Msida+Pieta - Msida Marina (MSTHC) 01 ies.jpg, Ta' Xbiex Breakwater
Ta' Xbiex Malta - Ta' Xbiex - ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex - Msida Marina (MSTHC) 03 ies.jpg, Msida Marina
Ta' Xbiex and Msida Malte, Msida, Parish church.jpg, Msida Malta-marsamxett-harbour-stlukeshospital.jpg, Saint Luke's Hospital
Pietà Malta - Floriana - Xatt it-Tiben + Pieta Creek 01 ies.jpg,
Pietà The Pietà (; meaning " pity", "compassion") is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus after his body was removed from the cross. It is most often found in sculpture. The Pietà is a specific for ...
Creek
Pietà Malta - Floriana - Triq Sa Maison+San Salvatore Bastion (Ix-Xatt Ta' Xbiex) 01 ies.jpg, Floriana Lines
Floriana Malta - Floriana - Xatt it-Tiben 02 ies.jpg,
Hay Wharf Hay Wharf or Haywharf ( mt, Xatt it-Tiben) is a naval base in Marsamxett Harbour, in Floriana, Malta. The wharf has been the main base of the Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta since 1977, and a new facility was built between 2015 an ...

Floriana Valettasunrisepan1.jpg,
Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 ...
Malta - Valletta - Triq il-Lanca - Fort Saint Elmo (MSTHC) 03 ies.jpg,
Fort Saint Elmo Fort Saint Elmo ( mt, Forti Sant'Iermu) is a star fort in Valletta, Malta. It stands on the seaward shore of the Sciberras Peninsula that divides Marsamxett Harbour from Grand Harbour, and commands the entrances to both harbours along with Fort ...

Valletta


See also

*
Malta Freeport Malta Freeport ( Maltese: ''Il-Port Ħieles'') is an international port on the island of Malta with a trade volume of 3.06 million TEUs in 2015.


References

Coordinates In geometry, a coordinate system is a system that uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely determine the position of the points or other geometric elements on a manifold such as Euclidean space. The order of the coordinates is sig ...
: {{Coord, 35, 54, 6, N, 14, 30, 29, E, type:waterbody
Geography of Malta Ports and harbours of Malta Bays of Malta