Mosta 1008394 225031770 2008-07-11T15:37:11Z 213.217.220.162 {{unreferenced|date=November 2006}} {{Towns (Malta) |name = Mosta |coa = Mosta coa.svg |motto = Spes Alit Ruricolam |official_name = Il-Mosta |inhabitants_name = Mosti (m), Mostija (f), Mostin (pl) |other_names = (code: MST) |map = Mosta-map.JPG |latitude = 35°54 '35" |longitude = 14°25 '34" |area = 6.8 |population_total = 18,429 (2nd largest locality) |population_density = 2,764 |borders = [[Attard]], [[Bidnija]], [[Lija]], [[Mġarr]], [[Naxxar]], [[Rabat, Malta|Rabat]], [[St. Paul's Bay]] |saint = [[St. Mary]] |feast = [[August 15]] |mayor = [[Paul Chetcuti Caruana]] ([[Malta Labour Party|MLP]]) |website = [http://www.mosta.gov.mt/ mosta.gov.mt] }} '''Mosta''' (or '''Il-Mosta''') is a town situated in the middle of the island of [[Malta]], to the north-west of [[Valletta]]. It has a population of 18,429 people (Nov 2005). In fact a lot of traffic passes through Constitution Street, one of Mosta's main streets which connects the South to the North. Mosta celebrates the feast of Saint Mary the Assumption on the 15th August. This is a very popular feast among the Mostin and tourists alike. Mosta has many legends such as the Mosta Bride (L-Gharusa tal-Mosta) and a lot of historical places such as the Victoria Lines and Medieval chapels. Mosta has its own scouts and girl guides as well as two band clubs (Nicolo' Isouard and Santa Marija) and two fire works factories that make spectacular fire works. The main attraction in Mosta is the Rotunda - a huge round church with the third largest unsupported dome in the world. ==Rotunda of Mosta (Mosta Dome)== {{main|Rotunda of Mosta}} Mosta boasts [[List of the world's largest domes|the third largest unsupported dome in the World]] [http://www.praymalta.org/mton.html] dedicated to the [[assumption of Mary|Assumption]]. The Feast of the Assumption is held on [[August 15]] and it is a public holiday. The church is also known as the Rotunda of St Marija Assunta. On 9 April 1942, the church was nearly destroyed during World War 2. An Axis bomb pierced the dome of the church but failed to explode. The detonator was removed and a replica bomb is now displayed as a memorial. <gallery> Image:Mosta-church.jpg|Mosta Dome Image:PICT5355-57small.jpg|Inside Mosta Dome </gallery> ==The Cumbo Tower== The Cumbo Tower was the stronghold of Mosta in the Middle Ages. It is presently owned by the [[Count Preziosi|Contessa Preziosi]], the daughter of the late Barone della Quleja. ==General== Since Mosta is in the centre of Malta, it is within very easy reach of tourists. Most buses pass from Mosta on the way to [[Buġibba]], [[Ċirkewwa]] or [[Mellieħa]] after having left from [[Valletta]]. An interesting attraction in Mosta is the [[Speranza Chapel]] ('speranza' meaning 'hope'), which is situated close to the Speranza Valley. It was built in the 18th century, between 1760 and 1761. A legend tied to this small Chapel recounts that during a [[Ottoman Empire|Turkish]] invasion, a young girl and her sisters were taking care of their family's sheep. Whilst the sisters escaped, the little girl couldn't run very fast because she limped slightly. It is said that she hid in a cave (it is found under the Chapel, on its left side), and that she prayed to Our Lady, who immediately intervened and had a spider weave its web over the opening of the cave. When the Turkish invaders chasing her arrived, they didn't look for her in the cave because they thought the girl could not be hiding there because the web was intact. '''Ir-Razzett tal-Markiz Mallia Tabone''' In Mosta, we find the Filantropic Organization at the Razzett tal-Markiz. The Razzett, or better Stable, is a 17th Century building which is now the sede of the Filantropic Organization of Mosta Talent. Various exhibitions are held during the year. Exhibitions vary from paintings, photography, artisan work, hobbies, etc. Literary evenings are held occasionally where famous Maltese writers are interviewed and where they discuss their works. The organization is run by volunteers. ==Zones in Mosta== *Beżbiżija *Blata l-Għolja *Folju *Il-Ħanqa *Mosta Technopark *San Pawl tal-Qlejja *San Silvestru *Santa Margerita *Ta' Bistra *Ta' Mlit *Ta' Redusa *Ta' Xkora *Ta' l-Awrora *Taċ-Ċawla *Tad-Daqqaq *Tad-Dib *Tal-Ħanżira *Tal-Ħireb *Tal-Qares *Tal-Wata *Tarġa Gap *Tas-Sriedek *Tat-Torba *Wied Ġjananu *Wied il-Għasel *Xagħriet ta' Fraxku *Żokrija ==Mosta Main Roads== *Pjazza Rotunda (Rotunda Square) *Triq C.Dimech (C.Dimech Street) *Triq F.Napuljun Tagliaferro (F.Napolione Tagliaferro Street) *Triq id-Dura (Dura Street) *Triq il-Barrieri (Quarries Street) *Triq il-Belt Valletta (Valletta Road) *Triq il-Bistra (Bistra Road) *Triq il-Fortizza tal-Mosta (Mosta Fort Street) *Triq il-Kbira (Main Street) *Triq il-Kostituzzjoni (Constitution Street) *Triq il-Kungress Ewkaristiku (Euacharistic Congress Street) *Triq il-Midbaħ (Midbah Street) *Triq il-Missjunsarji Maltin (Maltese Missioners Street) *Triq il-Pont (Bridge Street) *Triq l-Assemblea Nazzjonali *Triq l-Imsiebaħ (Partner Street) *Triq l-Oratorju (Oratory Street) *Triq Sant' Antnon Abbati (St Anthony Abbot Street) *Triq Santa Margarita (Santa Margarita Road) *Triq Tal-Bistra (Tal-Bistra Road) *Triq Ponsonby (Ponsonby street) *Vjal il-Qalbiena Mostin (Mosta's Heros Street) *Vjal l-Indipendenza (Independence Avenue) *Vjal Millbrae (Millbrae Avenue) ==Sister cities== * {{flagicon|USA}} [[Millbrae]],[[California|CA]], [[USA]] * {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Ragusa]], [[Sicily]], [[Italy]] == External links == * [http://www.mosta.gov.mt Mosta Local Council Website] * [http://www.mostarotunda.com Mosta Archpresbiteral church and other local feasts] {{Malta-LocalCouncils}} <span id="coordinates" class="plainlinksneverexpand"> [[Geographic coordinate system|Coordinates]]: {{coor dms|35|54|35|N|14|25|34|E|type:city}} </span> [[Category:Towns in Malta]] [[cs:Mosta]] [[de:Mosta]] [[fr:Mosta]] [[it:Musta]] [[hu:Mosta]] [[nl:Mosta]] [[nn:Mosta]] [[pl:Mosta]] [[scn:Mosta]] [[sv:Mosta]] [[vo:Mosta]]