Basilica of Our Lady of Victories

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Location: Triq Il-Vitorja, Isla

The Senglea Parish church dedicated to our Lady of Victories was built by the architect Vittorio Cassar in 1580 to commemorate the Great Siege of 1565. Eventually the church became a Parish in 1581 after having been part of the Parish of Birgu. The church was consecrated on 20th October 1743. On 21 May 1786, Pope Pius VI proclaimed the church to be a “collegiate insignis” (distinguished collegiate church) whilst in 1921 Pope Benedict XV gave the church the title of Basilica. Unfortunately, the church was destroyed in January 1942 after suffering various air-raid attacks during the Second World War. It was rebuilt by 1956. The building of the church is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. The most precious work of art in the Basilica is il-Bambina which is the patron Saint of Senglea. Il-Bambina is a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that was carved in 1618, painted in 1631 and gilded. In 1934 four silver angels were added around the statue. The crown of the statue contains diamonds and other precious stones. In front of the church one finds a memorial which is dedicated to the victims of the Second World War. In collaboration with Kottonera Foundation.

Il-Paroċċa tal-Isla li hija ddedikata lil Marija Bambina inbniet mil-perit Vittorio Cassar fl-1580 biex tikkomemora l-Assedju l-Kbir tal-1565. Eventwalment il-knisja saret Parroċċa fl-1581 wara li qabel kienet tifforma parti mil-Paroċċa tal-Birgu. Il-Knisja ġiet ikkonsagrata fl-20 ta’ Ottubru tal-1743. Fil-21 ta’ Mejju tal-1786, il-Papa Piju VI ipproklama l-knisja bħala “collegiate insignis” (knisja kolleġjata distinta) waqt li fl-1921 Papa Benedittu XV ta lil knisja t-titlu ta’ Basilika. Sfortunatament, f’Jannar tal-1942 waqt it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija, il-knisja iġġarfet wara li sofriet diversi attakki mill-ajru. Il-knisja reġgħet inbniet fl-1956. Il-knisja qegħda fil-lista tal-Inventarju Nazzjonali tal-Propjetà Kulturali tal-Gżejjer Maltin. L-iktar opra tal-arti prezjuża ġewwa l-Bażilika hija il-Bambina li hija l-Qaddisa patruna tal-Isla. Il-Bambina hija statwa tal-Madonna magħmulha mill-injam li kienet imnaqqxa fl-1618 li imbagħad ġiet miżbugħa u fl-1631 ġiet ukoll induratha. Fl-1934 erba’ statwi tal-fidda ġew miżjuda madwar l-istatwa. Il-kuruna tal-istatwa fiha djamanti prezjużi. Quddiem il-knisja wieħed isib monument iddedikat lil vitttmi tat-Tieni Gwerra Dinija. B’kollaborazzjoni mal-Fondazzjoni Kottonera.