Mosta

Mosta (Maltese: Il-Mosta) is a small but densely populated city in the Northern Region of Malta. The most prominent building in Mosta is the Rotunda, a large basilica built by its parishioners' volunteer labour. It features one of the world's largest unsupported domes, and displays a replica of the World War II bombshell that famously crashed through the dome but did not detonate upon impact.

Mosta

Il-Mosta

Musta
Local council
View of Mosta
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Spes Alit Ruricolam
Coordinates: 35°54′35″N 14°25′34″E
Country Malta
RegionNorthern Region
DistrictNorthern District
BordersAttard, Lija, Mġarr, Naxxar, Rabat, St. Paul's Bay
Government
 • MayorRomilda Baldacchino Zarb (PL)
Area
 • Total6.8 km2 (2.6 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)
 • Total20,988
 • Density3,100/km2 (8,000/sq mi)
DemonymsMosti (m), Mostija (f), Mostin (pl)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
MST
Dialing code356
ISO 3166 codeMT-32
ZonesBeżbiżija, Blata l-Għolja, Folju, il-Ħanqa, Mosta Technopark, Mount Saint Joseph, San Ġużepp tat-Tarġa, San Pawl Eremita, San Pawl tal-Qlejgħa, San Silvestru, Santa Margerita, (Sgħajtar), L-Isperanza, Ta' Bistra, Ta' Maċedonja, Ta' Mlit, Ta' Redusa, Ta' Srajgu, Ta' Xkora, Tal-Awrora, Taċ-Ċawla, Tad-Daqqaq, Tad-Dib, Tal-Ħanżira, Tal-Qares, Tal-Wata, Tal-Wej, Tas-Sriedek, Tat-Torba, Taż-Żokrija, Tarġa Gap, Wied Ġjananu, Wied il-Għasel.
Patron saintAssumption of Mary
Day of festa15 August
WebsiteOfficial website

Mosta celebrates the parish feast of the Assumption every 15 August. Mosta's feast day celebration is popular among both locals and tourists. The city is annually decorated by local parishioners and townspeople, seeking to demonstrate their affection for the town and its patron saint, weeks ahead of the public procession.

General

Mosta has been inhabited since pre-history. Dolmens in the limits of Mosta are primary evidence of this. Each dolmen has two rectangular standing stones and one other similar stone positioned horizontally above the other two.[1]

As Mosta is at the centre of Malta; buses pass through Mosta on the way to Buġibba, Burmarrad, St. Paul's Bay, Qawra, Xemxija, Mġarr, Ċirkewwa, Mellieħa and other places in the North.

The town has several legends such as The Bride of Mosta (L-Għarusa tal-Mosta),[2] and a number of historic places such as the Victoria Lines and medieval chapels.

Mosta has its own scouts and girl guides, two band clubs (Nicolo' Isouard and Santa Marija), and two fireworks factories. A lot of traffic passes through Constitution Street, one of Mosta's main streets, connecting the South to the North of Malta.

Places of interest

Speranza Chapel

An attraction in Mosta is the Speranza Chapel, which is situated at the Speranza Valley. It was built in the 18th century, between 1760 and 1761. A legend tied to the Chapel recounts that, during a Turkish invasion, a young girl and her sisters taking care of their family's sheep were at risk to be taken by the invaders. While the sisters escaped, the young girl could not run fast enough because she limped slightly. It is said that she hid in a cave (found under the Chapel, on its left side), and meanwhile she prayed to Mary, mother of Jesus, promising that if she were saved, she would build a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. When the Turkish invaders chasing her arrived, they didn't look for her in the cave because they thought the girl could not be hiding there as there was an intact web at the entrance, which would have not been so if someone had gone in.

Marquis Mallia Tabone Farmhouse

The Marquis Mallia Tabone Farmhouse is a folklore attraction, run by the Talent Mosti philanthropy and in collaboration with the adjacent school's council. The farmhouse overlooks the valley of Wied il-Ghasel. It houses exhibitions varying from paintings, photography, artisan work, hobbies and a permanent folklore museum.[3][4]

Cumbo Tower
Main article: Cumbo Tower
Cumbo Tower

The Cumbo Tower is a fortified residence in Mosta.[5]

St Marija Assunta Basilica
Main article: Rotunda of Mosta

Mosta boasts the third largest unsupported dome in the world. The church is dedicated to the Assumption.[6] The Feast of the Assumption is held on 15 August and it is a public holiday. The church is also known as the Rotunda of St Marija Assunta. On 9 April 1942, the church was nearly destroyed during World War II. An Axis bomb hit the dome of the church but failed to explode. The detonator was removed and a replica bomb is now displayed as a memorial.[7]

Mosta Dome

The Rotunda was designed by Giorgio Grognet de Vassé, a French citizen resident of Mosta. Mosta residents, at that time totalling not more than 1500, built the church.[8] The church took 27 years to complete and resulted in a major attraction.[9]

Twin cities

Mosta has two sister cities:

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gollark: Why the 2-high roofs?
gollark: The ship you demoed is VERY cramped.
gollark: techcorp.switchcraft.pw appears to not work?
gollark: Never mind, I obtained it.

References
  1. Morana, Martin (September 2011). Bejn kliem u storja: glossarju enċiklopediku dwar tradizzjonijiet - toponimi - termini storiċi Maltin (in Maltese). Malta: Best Print. pp. 57–58. ISBN 978-99957-0-137-6. OCLC 908059040. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016.
  2. http://mostaarchives.smashyouagainstthewall.com/KtiebEBVella/Ktb_StorjaMosta_aTq05.html
  3. User, Super. "Paġna Ewlenija". www.talentmosti.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  4. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Mosta philanthropic society is 30 years young". timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  5. "Cumbo Tower". The Times of Malta. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  6. Borg, Victor (2002). Rough Guide to Malta and Gozo. Rough Guides. pp. 151–2.
  7. Castillo, Dennis (2006). The Maltese Cross: a strategic history of Malta. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 184.
  8. "200-year-old History in an old musty archive". The Malta Independent. 11 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  9. MacGill, Thomas (1839). A hand book, or guide, for strangers visiting Malta. Malta: Luigi Tonna. pp. 124–126.
  10. Millbrae Sister Cities – Mosta Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine millbraesistercities.org
  11. (Italian) Comune di Ragusa: Comunicati Stampa ragusa.gov.it
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