The Mosta Rotunda Church of the Assumption of Our Lady (Church of Saint Mary) - Malta Attractions

The Facade of the Mosta Rotunda Church

Inside the Dome, from the Congregation Area

The Mosta Rotunda Church
The Mosta Rotunda is the huge Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and is the main tourist attraction in Mosta, Malta. Known also as The Church of Saint Mary, this church is dedicated to the assumption of Our Lady into Heaven, and celebrates it's feast on the 15th of August. It was built between the 1830's and 1860's taking 27 years in total to construct, and finally consecrated on the 15th of October, 1871. Built on a circular plan and with a neoclassical facade, the Mosta Rotunda has a beautiful, classic style interior with six beautiful side chapels and a huge marble floor. There are some incredible murals by Guiseppe Cali that look almost three dimensional when viewed from several angles.

The Replica WW2 Bomb that failed to Explode

Designed by the Maltese architect Giorgio de Vasse, it is believed to be the third largest unsupported church dome in Europe. Only Saint Peter's in Rome and Saint Sophia in Istanbul are larger. The dome was built without scaffolding by leaving the old church on the site to aid building work until it was nearly finished.

In 1942 the Dome was pierced by a World War 2 bomb which, fortunately, failed to explode. The point of entry can still be clearly seen when looking upwards from the congregation area underneath the Dome. About 300 persons were at Sunday worship when the bomb landed in the aisle of the Sanctuary and then skidded up to the altar. After failing to explode, many considered this to be a genuine miracle. The original bomb was safely destroyed shortly afterwards and the picture above is the replica now on show in the Sacristy.