VALLETTA, MALTA – It was an exciting surprise when we got confirmation from PBS that the 2014 Junior Eurovision Song Contest will take place also in a shipyard named Marsa Shipyard just like the Copenhagen Eurovision edition almost a month ago.
Marsa is located on the Marsa Creek, a body of water formed by the flow of water from wadis in high ground nearby to the sea. The creek includes the Grand Harbour which the town is based on. A port was first established at Marsa by the Phonecians. Remains of Roman constructions have been found close to the town. It is thought a foundry of the Order of the Knights of St. John may have been located at Marsa.
In July 2009 a plan to regenerate the harbour area was announced. This is intended to turn the site into a recreational area and is planned include the construction of a marina with space for 170 boats.
Marsa is home to the Malta Shipyards. It also houses one of the two power stations which provide most of the electricity to the Maltese Islands. Marsa Race Track, a one-kilometre long horse racing track, was constructed in 1868 and remains in use.
DID YOU KNOW?
Already events take place there: The Music & Steel Festival is a feast of rock, ska, tribal, new folk and pop performed by some of the best bands in Malta โ Tribali, Airport Impressions, The Rifffs, Red Electrick, The Crowns and The New Victorians. And the venue is just fantastic โ the site of the Malta Shipbuilding, Marsa. It all happened on 30 March, the eve of a holiday, Freedom Day.
