Comments on: It’s Castile Place and not Castille Square

By: J Sammut

J Sammut — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 05:16:00 +0000

Last night Misraħ Kastilja, or Castile Place was full of barricades to direct traffic and workmen could be heard working with jiggers near the Central Bank area.

I suppose they’re installing the much awaited lift complimenting the Piano steps.

That waste of Carrara marble, which does not show in the picture above, is totally out of place.

By: A.Attard

A.Attard — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 19:15:00 +0000

In reply to Daphne Caruana Galizia. Presumably, when the Cafe Cordina Piazza Regina took that name in 1891, when the statue was erected, the other Piazza Regina was renamed Castile Place, but this is just my reasoning and I have no references.

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 18:31:00 +0000

Thank you.

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 18:26:00 +0000

So there were two Piazza Reginas for a time? That’s what I’m asking. Sounds odd.

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 16:21:00 +0000

I’ve always known Piazza Regina to be the square where Café Cordina has all its tables out and where, when we were children, Mr Feed The Birds used to stand with his basket of corn (one penny for a handful of corn so that we could feed the pigeons – now they’re shot and poisoned by angry mayors).

So what happened?

By: Daphne Caruana Galizia

Daphne Caruana Galizia — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 15:35:00 +0000

In reply to Reuben Scicluna.

Streets, not roads.

A street has buildings – generally residential – on either side. A road does not.

The approach to Castile Place is a road, not a street.

Also, ‘place’ can be used for streets and roads, unusually, as with Grosvenor Place in London.

By: Reuben Scicluna

Reuben Scicluna — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 14:18:00 +0000

The OED also defines a square as an open area at the meeting of streets. You’re right on the Castile bit, though.

By: Pat1254

Pat1254 — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 12:17:00 +0000

The paving is creating a focal point which seems to bear no relation to the surrounding buildings.