City: Siggiewi, also called Città
Ferdinand, is a city in the south west of Malta. The city
is a few kilometers away from Mdina, the former capital of
Malta, and 10 kilometres of Valetta, the current capital.
Originally this was a farming community. The motto of
the inhabitants is Labora et Virtute (labour and virtue).
Till some decades ago the inhabitants mostly worked in the
fields. Siggiewi was founded in the 14th century. On December
30, 1797 Ferdinand Von Hompesch, Grand master of the order
of Malta, gave the village town rights by calling it after
himself: Città Ferdinand. The city stands on a flat
plateau flanked by two deep valleys. Landmarks are the summer
palace of inquisitor Onorato Visconte, built in 1625 and the
official residence of the prime minister, and the palace of
Grand master Fra Hughes Loubens de la Verdalle, one of the
residencies of the current minister president.
There are 9003 inhabitants living here (2010).
Bldg.: The church which we
are showing is the Nicholas church, a parish church which
was completed in 1693. This church, designed by the master
builder Lorenzo Gafà, was a replacement for an older
church of 1463 of which ruins are still visible. The style
of the building is baroque, although there have been several
changes since its original construction. In 1862, the church
was extended according to the plans of Dr. Nikol Zammit. Also
the current façade of 1864 is of his hand.
God's name: On the front of
the church are several ornaments. On one of these God’s
name is written on the headgear as the tetragrammaton.
