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Weather & Time in Malta
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The town's name derives
from the Arabic `musta', meaning centre. Mosta lies at the heart
of Malta, along the Great Fault that runs east-west across the
Island. It was only a hamlet in medieval times, but began to
develop at the turn of the 17th century after the Great Siege.
Today it is a busy market town. At its centre is a magnificent
domed church (completed in 1860), the Mosta Rotunda, said to be
the third largest unsupported church dome in Europe. It was built
to imitate the Pantheon in Rome, by Maltese architect George de Vasse. In World War II, the Church took a direct hit from a German
bomb during mass. The bomb pierced the dome, but failed to
explode. This event is now regarded as miraculous intervention.
You can see a replica of the 200kg bomb in the sacristy. The
building of the church was revolutionary in its day: the Mosta
Rotunda was constructed over the old church which was only
demolished at the last. Mosta is associated with several legends
which inspired the building of small devotional chapels: the cave
chapel of St Paul the Hermit in a picturesque valley; and the
Chapel of Our Lady of Hope, built as thanksgiving for the safety
of a local girl attacked by pirates raiding inland from Salina
Bay. Within the limits of Mosta there are also prehistoric remains
such as catacombs under Fort Mosta, and Bronze Age dolmens. Mosta
also lies on the Victoria Lines, the British fortifications built
along the Great Fault.
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Mgarr is a typical rural village,
and lies in one Malta's most isolated spots around five
kilometres from the town of Mosta. It is surrounded by
rich farmland and vineyards and most of the local
population is still engaged in agriculture. Mgarr's rustic
environs embrace several picturesque spots - Bingemma,
Wardija, Fomm ir-Rih and Gnejna Bay. The countryside is
superb for walks. Here you are likely to come across
examples of Giren, circular stone huts used by farmers,
natural landmarks such as the characteristic flat-topped
hills, ancient rubble walls and typical Mediterranean
garrigue, or scrubland. Mgarr's parish church dedicated to
St Mary is a miniature copy of the Mosta Rotunda. It was
built in 1912 with donations and voluntary labour from the
locals. The church's elevated position offers open views
of the fertile valleys and neighbouring villages. Mgarr is
also home to two of Malta's oldest prehistoric sites, Ta'
Hagrat and Skorba. Ta' Hagrat, still in a good state of
preservation, is the earliest standing temple in Malta and
dates from the same period as Ggantija on Gozo. Skorba is
an important site as it provides evidence of a prehistoric
village which spanned several millennia, from man's
earliest times in Malta. The site is of specialist
archaeological interest and is not accessible to the
general public. Visits can be arranged by appointment. The
village also houses a World War II air raid shelter which
is of special interest.
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