António Manoel de Vilhena
António Manoel de Vilhena was a Portuguese nobleman who was the 66th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem from 19 June 1722 to his death in 1736. Unlike a number of the other Grand Masters, he was benevolent and popular with the Maltese people. Vilhena is mostly remembered for the founding of Floriana, the construction of Fort Manoel and the Manoel Theatre, and the renovation of the city of Mdina.
Painting of Grand Master de Vilhena
Fort Manoel, which was financed by and named after de Vilhena
Lion Fountain in Floriana, which was built in 1728 during Vilhena's magistracy
Vilhena is buried at the Chapel of the Langue of Castile, Leon and Portugal in St. John's Co-Cathedral
Floriana, also known by its title Borgo Vilhena, is a fortified town in the Port Region area of Malta, just outside the capital city Valletta. It has a population of 2,205 as of March 2014. Floriana is the birthplace of many famous Maltese, amongst which the composer of the national anthem, 'L-Innu Malti', Robert Samut; former Bishop of Malta Dun Mauro Caruana, the poets Oliver Friggieri and Maria Grech Ganado, the writer and politician Herbert Ganado and Swedish Idol winner Kevin Borg.
From top: Malta Memorial, St. Publius Parish Church, Porte des Bombes, Christ the King Monument, Valletta Waterfront
St.Anne Square in Floriana, ca. 1870
Floriana parade ground, June 1878
Panorama of Floriana by Richard Ellis, ca. 1900
