The Sciberras Peninsula is a

peninsula A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is only connected to land on one side. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula. Etymology The word ''peninsula'' derives , . T ...

in the South Eastern Region of Malta, between the Grand Harbour in the south and

Marsamxett Harbour Marsamxett Harbour (), historically also referred to as Marsamuscetto, is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It is located to the north of the larger Grand Harbour. The harbour is generally more dedicated to leisure use than the Grand Ha ...

in the north. At its end stands the Mount Sciberras, which gave its name to the peninsula. During the Arab occupation the peninsula was called ''Mu'awiya'', which has been taken up in Maltese as ''Xagħriet Mewwija'' (uncultivated and undulating heaths).

Valletta Valletta ( ; , ) is the capital city of Malta and one of its 68 Local councils of Malta, council areas. Located between the Grand Harbour to the east and Marsamxett Harbour to the west, its population as of 2021 was 5,157. As Malta’s capital ...

, the capital of Malta, is located on the Sciberras Peninsula, as is its suburb Floriana. Some authors maintain that the name comes from the old Maltese family name Sciberras or ''Xiberras'', who would have owned the land. Recent scholarly studies indicate that the phrase ''Xeberras'' is a Punic phrase which means ''the headland'', or ''the middle peninsula'', which is exactly the geographic characteristic of the Valletta-Floriana peninsula.

Mount Sciberras

Mount Sciberras is a

hill A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit, and is usually applied to peaks which are above elevation compared to the relative landmass, though not as prominent as Mountain, mountains. Hills ...

Malta Malta, officially the Republic of Malta, is an island country in Southern Europe located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Sicily and North Africa. It consists of an archipelago south of Italy, east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The two ...

, which rises 56m above the Grand Harbour to the south and

to the north. It is upon this hill that the Grand Master of the

Order of Malta The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, and commonly known as the Order of Malta or the Knights of Malta, is a Catholic Church, Cathol ...

, Jean Parisot de Valette commissioned the construction of the new city of Valletta in 1566 after the

Great Siege of Malta The Great Siege of Malta (Maltese language, 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 t ...

. This hill gives its name to the peninsula. The name could also be a mispronunciation of the name Shahrbaraz which was a noble Persian title given to a ruler who gained Mediterranean access from the Byzantines in the Middle Ages.

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* * * * * * Peninsulas of Malta Geography of Valletta {{Malta-stub

Mount Sciberras

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