Malta - Mosta - The Rotunda Mosta

We visited Mosta and the Mosta Rotunda or Mosta Dome, the Church of The Assumption of St Mary during our stay in Malta in 2011

Modeled on the Pantheon in Rome the 'Rotunda' church was completed in 1860

The Mosta Rotunda or Mosta Dome, the Church of The Assumption of St Mary in 2011

Mosta, Malta - Mosta Dome, Malta

The inside of the 'Mosta Dome' of St Mary's Church, Mosta, Malta

Mosta church bomb! Mosta, Malta is the home of the third largest unsupported dome in Europe at St Mary's church known colloquially as the 'Mosta Dome', Malta.

The town of Mosta is a prosperous area mainly known for the parish church, dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady, St Mary's, that was hit by a stray bomb during WWII that pierced the domed roof of the church, during a service, but miraculously did not explode!

The Catholic faith has been a driving force in Malta's development and great store is placed upon the 'ranking' of towns within parishes and Mosta was granted parish status in 1610. To mark this the town of around 1000 Mostins had to build themselves a 'parish church', which was completed in 1619 but by the 19th century the population had outgrown it. In 1832 the town planners approved the building of a new church; the one you can see today. Modeled on the Pantheon in Rome the 'Rotunda' church was completed in 1860.

The titular statue of St Mary, in its niche on the left hand side of the church's main door entrance way The titular feast day for the parish of Mosta is celebrated on the 15th August when the statue of St Mary is removed from its niche on the left hand side of the church's main door entrance way and is paraded through the main streets of Mosta.

The church is referred to by some as 'Mosta Cathedral' but the church has not been raised to that position yet.

The titular painting of St Mary can be found on the main altar of the Rotunda. The original painting that was housed in the first parish church has been 'stretched' and added to over the years. The latest additions being a gold crown in 1975 and a star encrusted halo at the 2000 millennium.