The Marsa port was first established by the Phoenicians - however it was also used by the Romans and the Arabs as evident from the remains found in the area. Documents of the time of the Knights of St. John mention a Foundry of the Order located at Marsa, and an area around the port known as 'Marsa Hortus' or Cultivated Garden.
During the Great Siege of 1565 the Ottoman Troops had camps at Marsa which were demolished after the defeat of this empire. After this era Marsa became a barony with a large area of vineyards.
In the 17th Century Giovanni Francesco Abela converted his Villa on Jesuits Hill into a Museum of antiquity - the first of its kind in Malta - sadly this Villa, together with the Punic/Roman tombs in the area, were destroyed and buried under the Marsa Power Station - who knows, maybe finally the time has come to re-excavate the area.
During the French blockade of 1798-1800 the Maltese Patriots built the Marsa Battery and the Jesuites Hill Battery on this strategic point to fight against the Invading troops of Napoleon. 1860 saw the inaguration of Porto Novu and Albert Town, which was abandoned just a few decades after it was established. On the opposite side of Albert Town lies the Marsa Sports Grounds area - the first to own this land was Alfonso King of Naples and Sicily. In 1440 it was passed on to Pietro Busco, who died without heirs, and in 1469 it passed on to Giovanni de Nava who held the title of First Barone della Marsa. In 1530 de Nava passed on the land to Grand Master Phillippe Villiers de L'Isle Adam in exchange for a lifetime pension.
In 1886 the Area was leased by the British Forces to serve as Garrison Recreational Grounds, and in 1902 the Marsa Sports Club we know today was established. Detailed research about the Marsa Sports Grounds was done by our very own Wally Glynn - who gently passed on this valuable documentation to the Marsa Sports Club committee.
The turn of the century brought business and prosperity around the harbour area, as people who wanted to work and make money left their home villages and came to Marsa to live at the harbour, where work and prosperity was a-plenty. Here a new Town emerged - Marsa - the hub where Malta's economy found its cradle.
