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"Birgu" |
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 "Birgu"
is a name derived from the Arab word "Borg", meaning castle. It originally referred to the suburb of
the fishermen's houses that have grown up on the landward side of the "Castrum Maris", the old medieval
Fort of St. Angelo, which the Order of St. John took over from the De Nava family upon its
arrival in Malta. This little humble village, which is found in one of the natural creeks of the Grand Harbour,
was chosen by the Order of St. John in 1530 as its new city and headquarters. In the wake of the Hospitallers came the Rhodian refugees, merchants, tradesmen and craftsmen. Inevitably, the little village was soon over-crowded and new houses and inns had to be built. In "Birgu", the Knights soon built eight Auberges (the building where the Knights from the same Langue, that is, of the same nationality live), one for each "Langue", a hospital, a bakery and more fortifications around "Birgu" and the Fort of St. Angelo. |
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