Shrouded by myths, Mosta is considered to be one of Malta’s historical places of interests boasting the world’s third largest unsupported dome.

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A large town in central Malta, Mosta is connected with several local popular legends. The town is surrounded by many historical places of interest, including the Victoria Lines, which were built by the British Empire as a defense mechanism against land invasion from the North.

It boasts the third largest unsupported dome in the world dedicated to the Assumption.  The church, best known as the Rotunda of St Marija Assunta, was nearly destroyed during World War II when a German Luftwaffe bomb hit the dome of the church but failed to explode. Another two bombs also bounced off the dome and ended in the square without exploding either. A replica bomb has now been installed in the church as a memorial to the event.

Built between 1833 and 1871 on the site of a previous church, the plans were designed by Giorgio Grognet de Vasse, who based them on the Pantheon in Rome.

One other renowned attraction in Mosta is the Speranza Chapel which is situated close to the Speranza Valley. Legend has it that during the Turkish invasion between 1760 and 1761, a young girl and her siblings were taking care of the family’s sheep. The siblings managed to escape but the little girl could not run fast enough so she found refuge in a cave where she prayed to Our Lady who intervened and created a spider web over the opening of the cave. The Turkish invaders did not look for her in the cave as the web was still intact.

Various other tales and legends exist but all will be revealed when you visit Malta!