TWENTIETH CENTURY

1900 – 1999
Malta in the 20th century witnessed tremendous changes, including gaining independence from the UK and becoming a republic. It also experienced economic growth and political turbulence.
Discover More

NINETEENTH CENTURY

4 September 1921 1921
The statue of the Bambina is crowned
04/09/1921
On the shore of Isla, on 4 September 1921, Archbishop Mauro Caruana crowned the titular statue of the Bambina.
5 September 1991 1991
A War Memorial is inaugurated in Isla
05/09/1991
Hundreds of years after the Great Siege of 1565, Malta experienced another siege, this time through aerial attacks.
7 September 1952 1952
The inauguration and blessing of the new church in Kalkara
07/09/1952
Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi bought a sizeable piece of land near the Kalkara shore and gifted it to the Kalkara Parish, with the aim of building the new Parish Church on it.
8 September 1943 1943
Italy surrenders
08/09/1943
This was the day when the war in Malta stopped. Coincidentally, it was the same day when the statue of Our Lady, known as Il-Bambina,
27 September 1918 1918
The Spanish Flu in Malta
27/09/1918
Originating in America, the flu quickly spread to Europe and eventually reached Malta.
1 October 1929 1929
St Edward’s College welcomes its first students
01/10/1929
The governor of Malta, Sir John Philip Ducane, managed to obtain the buildings of what was once the Cottonera Military Hospital, along with the parade ground adjoining St. Clement’s bastions.
11 October 1909 1909
The breakwater is handed over to the Admiralty
11/10/1909
The building of the breakwater was completed in 1909.
14 October 1902 1902
The end of HMS Hibernia
14/10/1902
Since 1855, it had been docked near Fort St Angelo, serving as temporary barracks for the crew of the ships that were being repaired in the Dockyard
15 October 1921 1921
The MUSEUM Society opens a new centre for boys in Birgu
15/10/1921
The Society of Christian Doctrine, better known as MUSEUM, was founded by St George Preca in 1907.
16 October 1904 1904
Erin Serracino Inglott is born in Isla
16/10/1904
He was a Maltese playwright, poet, novelist, novel writer, lexicographer, philologist and translator.
17 October 1955 1955
Dom Mauro Inguanez dies
17/10/1955
He was instrumental during the Second World War, when he helped to arrange the transfer of many manuscripts, therefore saving them from destruction.
23 October 1938 1938
The ceremony for the granting of the standards to the Birgu Scouts Group
23/10/1938
For this ceremony, the Scout Groups of Bormla, St Edward’s College, Żabbar, Msida and those of the Salvatur Reformatory were present
25 October 1941 1941
Four bombs hit the fuel depot in Fort San Salvatore
25/10/1941
The San Salvatore bastion which forms part of the Cottonera fortifications was turned into a fort during the time of Grand Master Perellós.
5 November 1916 1916
The most memorable season for the St George’s Football Club
05/11/1916
Football was introduced in Malta during the time of the British in the middle of the 19th century.
8 November 1932 1932
President of Malta Ugo Mifsud Bonnici is born in Bormla
08/11/1932
He studied at the Lyceum and at the Royal University of Malta. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1952 and a Doctorate in Law in 1955.
19 November 1944 1944
The statue of the Immaculate Conception and the titular painting return to Bormla
19/11/1944
In 1941 the statue of the Immaculate Conception together with the titular painting of Bormla, were taken to Birkirkara to be in a safer place
20 November 1994 1994
The War Victims Memorial in Bormla is inaugurated
20/11/1994
The monument is in front of the Church of Bormla and is the work of Michael Camilleri Cauchi.
28 November 1942 1942
Carmelo Borg Pisani is sent to the gallows
28/11/1942
The espionage mission he came to carry out in Malta was discovered while he was in hospital.
5 December 1998 1998
Treaty between the Maltese Government and the Order of St John
05/12/1998
On this day, a treaty was signed between Malta and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, granting the upper part of Fort St Angelo, including the Grand Master’s House and the Chapel of St Anne, to the Order.
8 December 1906 1906
Fort St Angelo is given the name of HMS Egmont
08/12/1906
On 8 December 1906, Fort St Angelo passed into the hands of the Royal Navy and was given the name of HMS Egmont.
15 December 1929 1929
Tram service terminated
15/12/1929
The tram service in Malta, known as the Malta Tramway and Transport Company Limited, operated from 1905 to 1929. It provided a means of public transportation on the island, particularly in the areas of Cottonera, Valletta, Floriana, Hamrun, Birkirkara, and Sliema.
17 December 1923 1923
The school in Isla starts being built
17/12/1923
This decision seems to have found opposition from some, so much so that it ended up coming to the attention of the Legislative Assembly.
3 January 1921 1921
Isla Parish Church becomes a Basilica
03/01/1921
The church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as “Our Lady of Victories”, was built in memory of the glorious victory against the Turks during the Great Siege in 1565.
8 January 1947 1947
St Edward’s College reopens again
08/01/1947
During the Second World War, St Edward’s College was transferred to the Old Seminary in Mdina, since Cottonera, where the school was originally located, was heavily bombed.
16 January 1941 1941
The Basilica in Isla is hit by bombs
16/01/1941
During one of the attacks on the HMS Illustrious, the Isla Basilica dedicated to the birth of the Virgin Mary, was hit for the first time by a bomb
19 January 1941 1941
The Convent and Church of the Annunciation are hit
19/01/1941
On Sunday morning of the 19th of January 1941, Birgu suffered one of the fiercest attacks which left it in a devastated state.
25 January 1912 1912
King George V and Queen Mary visit Malta
25/01/1912
King George V was no stranger to Malta. As a young man, he served for many years under the command of his uncle, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, who was stationed at Fort St Angelo.
30 January 1979 1979
Villa Portelli passes into the local Government’s hands
30/01/1979
Villa Portelli is located across the hill leading to Bighi in Kalkara and was built in the early 19th century by Sir Agostino Portelli, the founder of the Malta Chamber of Commerce.
3 February 1923 1923
Maltese National Anthem is played for the first time
03/02/1923
On Saturday, 3 February 1923, in a concert that was organised by the Għaqda Kittieba tal-Malti, the Mandolinistic Society Melita…
7 February 1997 1997
The foundation stone for a new Elderly Home was laid
07/02/1997
In 1699, a Conservatory was established in Cospicua for poor adolescent girls. It was eventually dedicated to St Joseph of the Apparition.
14 February 1963 1963
The Dockyard is no longer under Bailey
14/02/1963
On 14 February 1963, the Malta Drydocks was handed over to an Administrative Council, after two years of heavy criticism in the House of Commons for the way Bailey was operating this shipyard. Bailey started administering the Malta Drydocks in 1959.
20 February 1905 1902
The funeral of Vice Admiral Lacon Hammet
20/02/1905
Vice Admiral Lacon Hammett was a Royal Navy Officer who became Admiral Superintendent of Malta Drydock.
22 February 1980 1980
The Maċina in Isla becomes the Headquarters for the Malta Labour Party
22/02/1980
The Maċina Bastion together with some nearby buildings became the new headquarters of the Malta Labour Party.
26 February 1927 1927
Maċina mast crane removed
26/02/1927
One of the most iconic places in Senglea is the bastion part known as Maċina, where the Knights of St John installed a mast crane called sheer legs to load masts on ships.
7 March 1956 1956
Bighi’s Cot Lift is back in operation
07/03/1956
On Wednesday, 7 March 1956, the Cot Lift at Bighi’s Naval Hospital was re-inaugurated after repairing the damage it suffered during the Second World War
12 March 1979 1956
The flagship is transferred from HMS St Angelo to HMS London
12/03/1979
Since on 31 March 1979, the British military base in Malta was going to close, the transfer of the flagship from HMS St Angelo to HMS London took place on 12 March 1979.
27 March 1955 1955
The foundation stone of the new church dedicated to the Annunciation is laid
27/03/1955
Archbishop Michael Gonzi laid the foundation stone for the new church dedicated to the Annunciation on Sunday, March 27, 1955
31 March 1979 1979
The British leave Malta
31/03/1979
On 31 March 1979, the last remaining detachment of British Forces marched out of Fort St Angelo to the lead ship RFA Sir Lancelot which was moored next to the Freedom Monument.
4 April 1942 1942
The old dome of the Church of St Lawrence collapses
04/04/1942
In January 1941, during one of the attacks on HMS Illustrious, the old dome of St Lawrence Church in Birgu, was heavily damaged, and later, on 4 April 1942, it collapsed.
9 April 1942 1942
The Oratory of the Crucifix of Isla is hit during an Axis air raid
09/04/1942
After being spared during the first months of the war, except for some minor damage, on 9 April 1942.
10 April 1976 1976
Birgu’s new Primary School is inaugurated
10/04/1976
After recognising the long-standing need for a new Primary School in Birgu, a decision was made in the 1970s to construct the new school.
14 April 1992 1992
A monument to honour Malta Drydocks' fallen Shipyard workers is inaugurated
14/04/1992
During a ceremony held at the Malta Drydocks on Tuesday, 14 April 1992, a monument was inaugurated in honour of the workers who lost their lives throughout the years
24 April 1904 1904
Founder Ġulju Cauchi passes away
24/04/1904
Founder Ġulju Cauchi died in his home in Cospicua on 24 April 1904.
27 April 1942 1942
The Clock tower in Birgu is destroyed
27/04/1942
Found in Birgu Square, the Clock Tower had five floors and was about forty metres high.
5 May 1905 1905
The last time Rinella's cannon was fired was during the colonial era
05/05/1905
The Rinella Battery, as it is more commonly known as Fort Rinella, was built in the Victorian era.
2 September 1998 1998
The Um El Faroud is scuttled
02/09/1998
The Um El Faroud, a Libyan tanker, had been built 26 years earlier in England and transported fuel between Libya and Italy.
26 May 1990 1990
Pope John Paul II visits the Three Cities of Cottonera
26/05/1990
United behind the theme ‘One Heart with the Pope – Qalb Waħda mal-Papa”, the Maltese people gave an astounding “Merhba” to John Paul II.
29 May 1929 1929
Cottonera Hospital leased to St Edward’s College
29/05/1929
Established in 1929 the college was to be a Catholic college for Maltese boys, run on the lines of a British public school.
7 June 1919 1919
One of the victims of the Sette Giugno riots was from Birgu
07/06/1919
Wenzu Dyer, who was born in Birgu and resided at 78, Strada Palazzo Antico Del Governatore in Vittoriosa, was one of the casualties of the Valletta riots on Sette Giugno (7th June) 1919
21 December 1927 1927
Charles Thake is born in Isla
21/12/1927
Charles Thake was born in Isla on 21 December 1927. He was a Maltese actor, very well known for the comic parts he used to play.
20 June 1943 1943
King George VI visits Isla
20/06/1943
King George VI visited Isla, Malta on Sunday 20 June 1943 during World War II. Malta, a British colony, had been under siege by the Axis powers for over two years.
25 June 1922 1922
Celebrating the seventh centenary of the death of St Dominic
25/06/1922
Celebrations honouring St Dominic of Gusman’s 700th death anniversary took place at Birgu’s Church of the Annunciation
28 June 1964 1964
The Victualling Yard at Birgu is transferred
28/06/1964
It had been operating from Birgu since the beginning of the 19th century
30 June 1987 1987
St Anne’s home is inaugurated in Isla
30/06/1987
The building was originally a house with an Oratory, but in 1819 it was turned into a Hospice.
1 July 1933 1933
HMS Egmont renamed as HMS St Angelo
01/07/1933
Fort St Angelo was officially transferred to the Royal Navy on 8 December 1906. Four years later, a ship mast was installed, and in 1912, the fort’s name was changed to HMS Egmont,
9 July 1944 1944
The Statue of Christ the Redeemer returns to Isla
09/07/1944
When the war was practically over, on 9 July 1944, the statue of Jesus the Redeemer was brought back to Isla.
17 July 1933 1933
Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonniċi is born in Bormla
17/07/1933
Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici served as Prime Minister of Malta from 1984 to 1987
23 July 1955 1955
Cardinal Tedeschini in Bormla
23/07/1955
On the 50th anniversary of the coronation of the titular painting of the Immaculate Conception of Bormla, Cardinal Tedeschini attached a halo around the head of the Immaculate Conception.
26 July 1941 1941
The Italian E-Boat attack
26/07/1941
On the evening of July 25th, the Italian Navy left Sicily with a plan to blow a gap in the steel net of the Grand Harbour
27 July 1952 1952
The foundation stone for the new Dominican Convent
27/07/1952
The convent of the Dominican friars we see today replaced the one that was demolished during the Second World War
30 July 1944 1944
The titular statue of St Lawrence is back in Birgu
30/07/1944
In 1941, this statue was taken to Mdina to be in a safer place during the war.
3 August 1913 1913
The foundation stone is laid for the new belfry at the Church of St Lawrence in Birgu
03/08/1913
When Lorenzo Gafà designed the facade of the Church of St Lawrence, he set aside the rule of symmetry and produced a single belfry.
6 August 1916 1916
Prime Minister Dominic Mintoff was born in Bormla
06/08/1916
He studied architecture at the Royal University of Malta and later he became a prominent political figure.
15 August 1942 1942
The St Mary Convoy
15/08/1942
In 1942, after the continuous bombings from the air by the Axis forces, Malta was on the verge of surrendering.
23 August 1925 1925
The inauguration and blessing of the dome of the old church of the Annunciation
23/08/1925
Until the first quarter of the 20th century, the Church of the Annunciation in Birgu was still without a dome
24 August 1957 1957
The new church in Isla is consecrated
24/08/1957
After the war, some believed that the Isla Parish Church should be rebuilt after it was destroyed in 1942.
31 August 1959 1959
Ferries stop operating in the Grand Harbour
31/08/1959
In the past, one mode of transport in the Grand Harbour was the ferry. Yet, over time, they were no longer financially viable, and their operation stopped on 31 August 1959.

AGE OF THE KNIGHTS 25

1530 – 1798
During the rule of the Knights, these islands went through numerous military conflicts, including the Great Siege of 1565. Under the leadership of the Order of St John, Malta experienced significant development, including the construction of a new capital city.
Discover More

NINETEENTH CENTURY 17

1799 – 1899
In the 19th century, Malta was under British rule and experienced significant modernization, including improved infrastructure for harbours, railways, and buildings, as well as population growth and political reforms.
Discover More

TWENTIETH CENTURY 67

A MODERN REVIVAL 8

2000 – present
In the 21st century, Malta joined the EU, saw significant economic growth, and emerged as a hub for iGaming and financial services, while also grappling with political scandals and controversies.
Discover More

TWENTIETH CENTURY

The statue of the Bambina is crowned

A War Memorial is inaugurated in Isla

The inauguration and blessing of the new church in Kalkara

Italy surrenders

The Spanish Flu in Malta

St Edward’s College welcomes its first students

The breakwater is handed over to the Admiralty

The end of HMS Hibernia

The MUSEUM Society opens a new centre for boys in Birgu

Erin Serracino Inglott is born in Isla

Dom Mauro Inguanez dies

The ceremony for the granting of the standards to the Birgu Scouts Group

Four bombs hit the fuel depot in Fort San Salvatore

The most memorable season for the St George’s Football Club

President of Malta Ugo Mifsud Bonnici is born in Bormla

The statue of the Immaculate Conception and the titular painting return to Bormla

The War Victims Memorial in Bormla is inaugurated

Carmelo Borg Pisani is sent to the gallows

Treaty between the Maltese Government and the Order of St John

Fort St Angelo is given the name of HMS Egmont

Tram service terminated

The school in Isla starts being built

Isla Parish Church becomes a Basilica

St Edward’s College reopens again

The Basilica in Isla is hit by bombs

The Convent and Church of the Annunciation are hit

King George V and Queen Mary visit Malta

Villa Portelli passes into the local Government’s hands

Maltese National Anthem is played for the first time

The foundation stone for a new Elderly Home was laid

The Dockyard is no longer under Bailey

The funeral of Vice Admiral Lacon Hammet

The Maċina in Isla becomes the Headquarters for the Malta Labour Party

Maċina mast crane removed

Bighi’s Cot Lift is back in operation

The flagship is transferred from HMS St Angelo to HMS London

The foundation stone of the new church dedicated to the Annunciation is laid

The British leave Malta

The old dome of the Church of St Lawrence collapses

The Oratory of the Crucifix of Isla is hit during an Axis air raid

Birgu’s new Primary School is inaugurated

A monument to honour Malta Drydocks' fallen Shipyard workers is inaugurated

Founder Ġulju Cauchi passes away

The Clock tower in Birgu is destroyed

The last time Rinella's cannon was fired was during the colonial era

The Um El Faroud is scuttled

Pope John Paul II visits the Three Cities of Cottonera

Cottonera Hospital leased to St Edward’s College

One of the victims of the Sette Giugno riots was from Birgu

Charles Thake is born in Isla

King George VI visits Isla

Celebrating the seventh centenary of the death of St Dominic

The Victualling Yard at Birgu is transferred

St Anne’s home is inaugurated in Isla

HMS Egmont renamed as HMS St Angelo

The Statue of Christ the Redeemer returns to Isla

Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonniċi is born in Bormla

Cardinal Tedeschini in Bormla

The Italian E-Boat attack

The foundation stone for the new Dominican Convent

The titular statue of St Lawrence is back in Birgu

The foundation stone is laid for the new belfry at the Church of St Lawrence in Birgu

Prime Minister Dominic Mintoff was born in Bormla

The St Mary Convoy

The inauguration and blessing of the dome of the old church of the Annunciation

The new church in Isla is consecrated

Ferries stop operating in the Grand Harbour