Mosta Dome

Exact numbers aside, we reckon everyone would accept that there are plenty of them, and that they range from the windswept cliff-top chapels to lofty city-centre cathedrals, and from a Gothic fortress-church with an adjoining graveyard, to ultra-modern structures that wouldn’t look out of place on the Starship Enterprise.

Actually, you’ll also find an underwater chapel, although admittedly it started out as one of the aforementioned cliff-top chapels that got a little too windswept. From this we can cheerfully conclude that the Maltese like their churches and one of the examples that gives them the most pride is the magnificent Mosta Dome, or the Rotunda Santa Marija Assunta.

This architectural masterpiece is notable for many reasons and is distinguished by the grandeur of its 67 metre high cupola. And so on to the notables – the biggest of which is the dome, which was designed by Maltese architect Giorgio Grongnet and is the third largest unsupported dome in the world. It’s also one of the most attractive when viewed from incide with its daisy like centre and swirlingly patterned decoration. The church also has a fine neo-classic façade embellished by iconic columns. It’s no coincidence that it bears more than a passing resemblence to Rome’s Pantheon.

But there are two other remarkable episodes from this building’s past that you should be aware of –  the first being its construction. The new church was built to replace an existing and still-standing parish church, on the same site. And here comes the interesting bit – how do you build a new church on the same site as an existing church? Easy, build the new one up, around and over the old one! And that is precisely what they did in the mid 19^th century. When complete, they demolished the old church inside the new one and bingo! Church replaced without worshippers ever being churchless. Genius!

The second, amazing, and possibly miraculous, episode occurred in the Second World War when an early evening air-raid on the 9th of April 1942 led to a 200kg German bomb passing through the dome where 300 people were gathered in prayer. It landed on the floor in the middle of the church, failed to explode and injured no-one. Miracle? Possibly! A replica of the bomb remains on display in the church today.

The church also boasts the largest mechanical organ ever installed in Malta. It was built in Italy by the famous organ builder Pacifico Inzoli and was installed along with around 2000 pipes in 1885.

Mosta is pretty much bang in the middle of Malta - west of Sliema - and is easy to reach by car on well signposted roads. On the bus, there are many routes that call at Mosta including: 41, 42, 21 and 23. As for directions to the church once you are there, well we’re not giving you any as it’s fairly obvious where it is. You’ll see when you get there!

Admission to the church is free and it’s open from 9am to 11am and between 3pm and 5pm from Monday to Saturday.