Mosta from Mdina A busy commercial town, Mosta owes it name to its situation in the ‘centre’ of Malta. The town has developed considerably in the last 70 years when it was just a small and unkept village. This pathetic history has long been superceded partially due to events that took place during WWII. One seemingly ordinary Sunday, mass was interrupted by an air raid and three bombs fell on the much-prized Mosta Dome. Two of these bounced harmlessly off on to the pavement while the last went right through the dome and crashed to a halt on the floor of the church without exploding. The event is still considered to be miraculous by the Maltese.

Despite the mishap, Mosta Dome, the majestic crown of the Parish Church of St Mary, is still standing. A prominent landmark, visitors will be able to spot the sparkling landmark from high points all over the island such as mdina. The Dome (sometimes called the Mosta Rotunda) would have been dear to thearts of the Maltese without the bombing incident. The glorious dome is the work of a Maltese architect, Giorgio Grognet De Vasse and just as importantly, the dome was raised with funds provided by generous locals. Modeled on the Pantheon in Rome, Mosta Church is circular in design with a six column portico. The dome itself is one of the broadest unsupported domes in Europe. The former sacristy of Mosta Church now houses the Mosta Church Museum which displays a replica of the offending bomb and other historical artefacts.

Mosta DomeThere are no other tourist attractions in Mosta itself but a short meander around the town’s backstreets will take you into the heart of typical Malta. The old streets have remained undeveloped for the most part and are lined with typical town houses with their limestone facades and Venetian Balconies. These exteriors are highly misleading for many of these inconspicuous frontages hide the majestic houses of character within which in many cases are Aladdin’s caves of antiques, internal courtyards and gardens – all highly desirable on the local property market.