Set amidst the fertile agricultural land of central Malta, Mosta is a thriving market town nine kilometres from the island's capital of Valletta. In medieval times Mosta was just a tiny hamlet with development only starting in the seventeenth century.
Today the town continues to flourish and attract visitors, largely due to its host of sightseeing opportunities. Amongst these attractions are windmills, fortifications, the Marquis farmhouse, valleys, and the Ta'Bistra Catacombs, all offering a taste of the historical and archaeological heritage of Malta.
However, the most famous landmark in Mosta is the immense parish church of St Mary's. The town, and indeed much of the island, is dominated by the enormous dome known as the Mosta Rotunda.
Built in the mid nineteenth century the rotunda was constructed without scaffolding, an incredible building feat which took 27 years to complete. The result, the fourth largest dome in Europe, continues to delight visitors.
The massive walls, six metres deep at some points, and the Ionic columns of the facade contain a wonderful interior which houses stunning marble floors and almost three-dimensional murals.
To this day locals still talk of the Miracle at Mosta when, on the afternoon of the 9th of April 1942, a German bomb pierced the dome, clattered to the floor and skidded across the church floor but, unbelievably, didn't explode amongst the three hundred strong congregation.
The Maltese have always believed this incident to be a miracle. The small museum which is part of the church contains a replica of the 200kg bomb along with some World War II photographs.
Visitors to the town can intersperse their sightseeing with refreshments in the cafes and restaurants which are mainly found around the church.
