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 the world's third largest unsupported dome, and displays a replica of a German bombshell that famously crashed through the dome during World War II but did not detonate upon impact.

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

General

History

Mosta has been inhabited since prehistory. Dolmens in the limits of Mosta and cart ruts are primary evidence of this. Each dolmen has two rectangular standing stones and one other similar stone positioned horizontally above the other two.

In the Middle Ages, Mosta was a small hamlet amongst a number of other hamlets, each sparsely populated. These tiny villages were Raħal Calleja, Raħal Ħobla, Raħal Pessa (or Pise / Bise), Raħal Sir, Raħal Kircipulli, Raħal Brabar and Raħal Dimech (or Dimag). In the 16th century, these hamlets decreased in importance and Mosta took its place as the principal village. In 1419, the hamlets of Raħal Calleja, Bise and Dimag collectively had a population of 475, while by the late 15th century Mosta had a population of 482 people.

In 1526, Barbary pirates led by Sinen Rais raided Mosta, killed some of its inhabitants and enslaved around 400 people. According to tradition, a bride who was about to get married was among those captured, and this episode came to be known as the tale of the bride of Mosta () in Maltese folklore. Several versions of the story exist, with the most common being that a bride named Angelica or Marianna Cumbo was abducted from her family's residence, the Cumbo Tower, and was taken to the harem of a North African sultan or pasha. In most versions, her betrothed, Toni Manduca, managed to obtain her freedom by paying a ransom or by traveling to where she was being held and helping her escape. The bride is said to have died shortly after their return to Malta and her husband died some time later while fighting the Turks.

The apostolic visit of Mgr Pietro Dusina in 1575 indicated that even the church dedicated to the Assumption that stood in Mosta was so important in the area that it was erroneously called ‘parochial church’. In 1575, there were 580 persons living in Mosta. The Feast of the Assumption is held on 15 August and it is a public holiday in Malta.

From its inception as a parish in 1608, Mosta has had three different churches built on the same site,

Grognet’s design was based on that of the Pantheon of Rome. Due to debates and doubts regarding the design, the first stone was laid on 30 May 1833. The rotunda has a diameter of 55.20 metres on the outside and 39.60 metres on the inside. The main façade faces south and has six columns in the Ionic style. On each side, a steeple rises from the façade. Following the front elevation, the church has an analogous style at the back, but without steeples. The dome was built on the principle of the catenary profile, meaning that each stone was laid over the one underneath it.

The church took 27 years to complete and became a major attraction. On 9 April 1942, the church was nearly destroyed during World War II. An Axis bomb hit the dome of the church whilst people were inside, but it failed to explode. The detonator was removed and a replica bomb is now displayed as a memorial.

Lion monument in Rotunda Square

thumb|Lion monument as photographed in 2014

A prominent feature of Rotunda Square is a statue of a lion on a pedestal, which was removed in 2023 and placed in the public garden behind the church. Once, this was part of a fountain which originally was in Sliema. The fountain has since been removed. The statue is made of bronze-coloured cast iron. It was made in the in Paris. Embossed on the pedestal there are the coat-of-arms of Mosta and those of independent Malta.

Speranza Chapel (Chapel of Our Lady of Hope)

thumb|Speranza Chapel as photographed in 2024

An attraction in Mosta is the Speranza Chapel in the Speranza Valley. The chapel was built 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. Whilst 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's left side. Meanwhile, she prayed to Mary, promising that if she were saved, she would build a chapel dedicated to Our Lady. When the Turkish invaders chasing her arrived, they did not look for her in the cave because they thought the girl could not be hiding there as there was an intact spider web at the entrance, which would have been damaged had she entered the cave.

Wied Filep Dolmens

Two dolmens, dating back to the Bronze Age, can be seen in a field between Vjal Ragusa and Dawret il-Wied.

Cumbo Tower

thumb|right|Cumbo Tower as photographed in 2016

The Cumbo Tower is a historic residence in Mosta. In the grounds there is a small Christian family tomb from the Roman era.

Other sites of interest

Tal-Għammariet Hypogeum

This is a site that has most likely been destroyed, and has been recorded by Emmanuel Magri as being in the hamlet of Ħal Dimech, now part of Mosta, and not far from the Ta' Bistra Catacombs. This site is within the confines of Fort Mosta which is used by the Armed Forces of Malta.

Wied il-Għasel Catacomb

Another small catacomb is found in Wied il-Għasel, consisting of a series of seven tombs dug in the rock in a semi-circular form found in the side of a natural cave beneath Fort Mosta.

Twin cities

Mosta has three sister cities:

  • Millbrae, California, United States (since April 1996)
  • Ragusa, Italy
  • Cassagnabère-Tournas, France

References

  • Mosta Local Council Website
  • Harsien Patrimonju Mosti Website