Mosta is a town located in central Malta, occupying an area of 6.8km2 and around 19,200 inhabitants, making it one of the largest towns on the island. Mosta is very famous for its Rotunda church that has a huge dome. The surroundings of Mosta are fertile agricultural land and the villages of Naxxar, Rabat, Burmarrad and Lija.
Mosta is located on the main route that goes from Valletta to Cirkewwa in the north and therefore experiences heavy daily traffic flows, especially on Constitution Street. Mosta is continually developing and new houses are built on a daily basis. The business community is very active and prosperous, and because of this the town’s population is ever growing.
A very popular feast among the locals as well as the tourists is the feast of Saint Mary the Assumption, celebrated on the 15th August. This day is a public holiday and is celebrated with lots of music, food and fireworks and it is well worth a visit.
Forts & Fortifications
The Victoria Lines
The Victoria Lines are a series of fortifications that span the island of Malta from east to west for a length of twelve kilometres. These defences were built between 1870 and 1899 and named after Queen Victoria in honour of her diamond jubilee as sovereign. These defences were intended to protect the highly populated southern part of Malta from an invasion coming from the largely uninhabited north of the island. The Victoria Lines, consisting of a number of batteries, forts, and an infantry line, were never effectively used as a means of defence and by 1907 they were not considered to be an important front-line defence any more. A walk along large stretches of these Lines makes for a great experience.
Fort Mosta
Fort Mosta is located in the centre of the Victoria Lines. The fort was built in 1878 by the British Military. This fort is still used for military purposes today by the Malta Armed Forces. The Dog Section of the Malta Police Corps is also housed in the Fort Most complex. Within the fort’s precincts there is a Late Roman catacomb dating from the 4th century CE.
Civil Defence School
On the outskirts of Mosta, a short distance from Fort Mosta there is a complex which once served as the Civil Defence School. This was established in 1956 to provide training to civilians in preparation for any national emergencies. With time this school changed its focus and became an art and design school for student artists. In more recent times it has evolved into an institute of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology where education in artistic expression is developed to even higher standards. In the neighbourhood one also finds a Greek theatre, a public garden – Ġnien l-Għarusa tal-Mosta – and an underground nuclear shelter.
Gardens & Hamlets
The Bridge over Wied il-Għasel
The large stone bridge found today is a recent one. The original structure consisted of an iron bridge which had been constructed for use by the British military forces in order to facilitate access to Fort Mosta. With time the bridge became dangerous and had to be pulled down and replaced by the present one. It is an experience walking over the bridge and looking on both sides of the valley which it spans. The scene is interesting and picturesque especially during winter and spring.
L-Għarusa tal-Mosta Public Garden
This public garden is situated on the way to Burmarrad. Part of the defensive wall of the Victoria Lines passes along its perimeter and within this garden there is a Greek theatre and from here one has a breath-taking view over the whole northern part of Malta. It is one of the few open spaced in the Mosta area where people can go for relaxation. Underneath this garden one can still find a nuclear shelter which was built during the Cold War.
The hamlet of Bidnija
Bidnija is a small hamlet with around sixty households. This small village has its own church dedicated to the Holy Family. Its main activity is centred on agricultural produce as this hamlet is situated in the middle of an extensive fertile rural zone. Bidnija has from Roman times been famous for its olive trees and some very old trees, dating from over 2000 years ago, are still to be found there. Bidnija is some distance away from Mosta, and depends on the main town for its religious and administrative needs.
War monuments
War Monument
The monument commemorating the fallen in times of war is known as Il-Monument lill-Qalbiena Mostin (The Monument to the Brave Mostin). It comprises the names of all the known Mosta victims of the conflict during the French occupation (1798-1800), the First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1940 -1945). This monument is found at the very entrance to Mosta. It is the work of Mosta sculptor Ġanni Bonnici, and depicts a woman representing ‘Mosta’ holding a dead ‘son’ with a ruined building under their feet.
World War Two Pillbox at San Ġużepp tat-Tarġa
One of the pillboxes that were erected to guard the route from Burmarrad to Mosta still exists today, but it now serves as a bus shelter. Built on the Victoria Lines during the Second World War, it commanded all the area north of the Great Fault. It is an experience going into this pillbox and looking onto the northern areas of Malta from where a potential Axis invasion could be expected.
Second World War Shelter
During World War Two shelters needed to be constructed for protection from air raids. These were dug in the solid rock and thus the work was quite hard and time consuming. The work on the shelter near the Rotunda parvis started in 1940 and was opened for use in 1941 after five months of digging. It was excavated by 15 skilled workers who worked in day and night shifts. It is 75 meters long and runs for 7 meters under the main square. Its design consists of simple interconnecting corridors, with multiple entrances/exits and a few cubicles. One of these was covered in tiles so as to keep it as clean as possible as it was used in cases when a woman needed to give birth during an air raid. Some Mostin used to take shelter in the parish church and in the crypt before enough shelters were available.
The Feast of the Patron Saint
Mosta celebrates its main feast on 15 August. The town’s patron saint is the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven, popularly known among the locals as il-festa ta’ Santa Marija (the feast of St. Mary) or l-Assunta (the Assumption).
In Mosta the feast begins from two weeks before the 15th of August, during which time the festive atmosphere is felt everywhere. The kwindiċina (15 days or two weeks) of feasting is marked by cheerful marches and other musical programmes offered by the two local band clubs, spectacular ground and aerial fireworks offered by the two Mosta fireworks societies, and the embellishment of the streets and squares done by the local decorations’ enthusiasts’ group. The town is dressed for the feast with colourful lights, drapes, statues and festoons. The famous basilica of Mosta popularly known as the Rotunda, is a spectacle to behold during this time of the year. Its façade is decorated as also the interior of the church.
This draws the admiration of both locals and tourists.
The festa reaches its peak on the day of the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. Apart from the religious functions inside the church, in the evening the titular statue of the Assunta is carried on the shoulder along the streets during the annual procession, accompanied by Marian marches played by the two local bands, and is welcomed by large crowds of devotees, admirers and tourists.