Rotunda of Mosta
Rotunda ta' San Mari Assunta
A church with one of the world's great unsupported domes; in WWII a German bomb pierced the dome and fell inside without exploding.
The Mosta Rotunda (Rotunda of St Mary of the Assumption) was built between 1833 and 1860 in the style of the Roman Pantheon, with an interior dome about 37 m across. It is one of the largest unsupported domes in the world, and it was built by local villagers who volunteered their labour. On 9 April 1942 a German bomb pierced the dome and fell into the church during Mass, but it failed to explode. The faithful regarded this as a miracle, and a replica of the bomb is still displayed in the church's sacristy. Admission is about €5, which includes a small museum and access to the outer gallery of the dome. It is in the central town of Mosta, about 25 minutes by bus from Valletta, and can be combined with a visit to Mdina.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat 09:00–17:00 (no visits during Mass)
Nearby sights
- Mdina
- St. Paul's Catacombs
- St. Julian's & Spinola Bay
- Dingli Cliffs
- Sliema & Tigné Point
- Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra Temples
- Golden Bay
- Lascaris War Rooms