Adopted by Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Florida.
Adopted by the Trotter Family.
Adopted by the Cerulean Baptist Singles Class
in Cadiz, Kentucky USA, on 1st May 2004.
Mdina is the oldest and best preserved city in Malta. During Roman times, the city included a large part of present day Rabat, the suburb of Mdina. It is certain that either during the Byzantine or during the Arab occupations of Malta, the fortifications were retracted to the present proportions, perhaps for better defensibility.
It is during this time, when the city was refered to as the 'medina', (the Arab word meaning "town or city") that Mdina got its name. The Arab legacy continued even though the Arabs were officially expelled from Malta in 1250 when the Islands were under Catholic rule. Thus the name 'Mdina' survived even though the City was referred to as 'Citta Notabile' (a Latin name). It was the capital city of Malta for quite a long time!
Situated at the top of a hill in central Malta, (city on a hill, literally!) Mdina has a small population of around 450 people. It is surrounded by great fortifications which were a very neccessary protection - because of Malta's stategic position in the Mediterranean sea, pirates continually attacked, intending to take possession of Malta. And of course, whoever commanded Mdina, commanded Malta.
Mdina still possesses a realistic Medieval environment, which continues to draw tourists from all over the world. The streets are narrow and winding (so arrows won't fly very far) and the houses are all the same height (the the defenders could easily fight the enemy from above) and it is all too easy to imagine Mdina in its glory days.
From the bastions you can see for miles; Malta's fields unroll before you to the North where the blue sea meets the horizon. And of course if the walk makes you hungry (no vehicles allowed except for residents) then be sure to stop by Fontanella, a cafe built into the outer wall, and try some of their world-famous chocolate cake.
In the centre of the city is St Paul's square, and one of Malta's finest buildings, a Cathedral. The original building was completely destroyed due to an earthquake which took place on the 11th of January 1693, except for the sacristy and the newly-constructed choir. It was then rebuilt by Lorenzo Gafa', a very well known Maltese architect who had built the choir earlier himself. Inside the Cathedral, paintings of Mattia Preti enrich the architecture of the building.
Mdina Weblinks
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There are ancient salt-pans nearby, and in fact the name Mellieha is derived from the Semitic root 'm-l-h' which in Arabic means salt. It has been inhabited since early Neolithic times and many tombs and remains associated with those times were found in the village.
The first settlements in Mellieha date back to 3000 BC during the Neolithic times. Proof of this are the well-preserved megalithic remains in the village such as tombs and tools used in those times. For thousands of years, farmers irrigated the land and used caves as their dwelling places in Mellieha, but later the area was deserted following constant raids by pirates (there were no defenses around Mellieha).
During the 17th century, the Knights of Malta built several fortifications around the coast in order to protect the inhabitants. Feeling more secure, families started to settle again in Mellieha and by 1844, the village was established as a parish by the British Empire and has grown into the village we know today.
One of Malta's largest sandy beaches is located in the inner part of Mellieha bay, so people come to enjoy it from every area of Malta, especially during the summer months. Many thousands of tourists also visit, drawn by Mellieha's proximity to the sea. The population increases dramatically in the summer time while the hotels down by the sea operate at maximum capacity, and many Maltese rent apartments in the area or maintain summer residences.
Mellieha Weblinks
Please note that these links are provided for informational purposes, and their inclusion here does not mean that we endorse their content. Problems? Contact the webservant.
Adopted by River View Baptist Church in Kentucky USA on 20th October 2002.
Mgarr is a typical rural village, and lies in one Malta's most isolated spots, about three miles out from the town of Mosta. It is surrounded by rich farmland and vineyards, and most of the local population is still engaged in agriculture.
Mgarr's rustic environs embrace several picturesque spots - Bingemma, Wardija, Fomm ir-Rih and Gnejna Bay. [Quick pronunciation guide: 'g' sounds like 'j' as in 'jump', while the Maltese 'j' is pronounced 'y' as in 'yellow']
The countryside is superb for walks. Here you are likely to come across examples of 'Girien', circular stone huts used by farmers, also natural landmarks such as the characteristic flat-topped hills, ancient rubble walls and typical Mediterranean garrigue, or scrubland.
Mgarr's parish church dedicated to St. Mary is a miniature copy of the Mosta Rotunda. It was built in 1912 with donations and voluntary labour from the locals. The church's elevated position offers open views of the fertile valleys and neighbouring villages.
Mgarr is also home to two of Malta's oldest prehistoric sites, Ta' Hagrat and Skorba. Ta' Hagrat, still in a good state of preservation, is the earliest standing temple in Malta and dates from the same period as Ggantija in Gozo. Skorba is an important site as it provides evidence of a prehistoric village which spanned several millennia, from man's earliest times in Malta. The site is of specialist archaeological interest and is not accessible to the general public. Visits can be arranged by appointment. The village also houses a World War II air raid shelter which is of special interest.
Another interesting site is the windmill. Though not used any longer, it is still in working order. During the grim years of the second World War when the Axis completely blockaded Malta, this windmill was put into good use, saving many from starvation. Its last miller was a certain Guzepp Grech, who died at the age of eighty-seven in 1987. After his demise, the place was restored and on 6 September 1992, and a folklore museum was set up in the miller's rooms.
VILLAGE Weblinks
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Adopted by Team Malta on 1st May 2004.
Mosta has been occupied by settlers since early times and officially became a parish in 1610.
It was only a hamlet (i.e. not big enough to warrant the term 'village') in medieval times, but began to develop at the turn of the 17th century after the Great Siege. Today it is a busy market town with the third-largest population on the island.
Mosta is associated with several legends which inspired the building of small devotional chapels: the cave chapel of 'St. Paul the Hermit' in a picturesque valley, and the Chapel of 'Our Lady of Hope', built as thanksgiving for the safety of a local girl attacked by pirates raiding inland from Salina Bay.
Within the limits of Mosta there are also prehistoric remains such as catacombs under Fort Mosta, and Bronze Age dolmens (stone columns). Mosta also lies on the Victoria Lines, the British fortifications built along the Great Fault.
The Mosta Dome
At Mosta's centre is a magnificent domed church (completed in 1860), the Mosta Rotunda, said to be the third largest unsupported church dome in Europe. It was built by Maltese architect George de Vasse, and designed to imitate the Pantheon in Rome.
The building of the church was revolutionary in its day; the Mosta Rotunda was constructed over the old church which was only demolished at the last.
In World War II, the Church took a direct hit from a German bomb during a service. The bomb pierced the dome, but failed to explode. This event is now regarded as miraculous intervention. A replica of the 200kg bomb is kept in the sacristy.
The area around the Mosta Rotunda is the focal point of Mosta, as the main roads meet here and there are many shops and cafe's, as well as civic buildings housing a police station, a major post office, and a 'polyclinic' (free doctors clinic).
As you can gather from reading above, Mosta has many fascinating sites linked to its history from time of the Turks to the British, including chapels, catacombs, old houses and Fort Mosta on the Victoria Lines which stretch across the valley to Naxxar.
Mosta Weblinks
Please note that these links are provided for informational purposes, and their inclusion here does not mean that we endorse their content. Problems? Contact the webservant.
Adopted by Swanston Street Church of Christ, Melbourne, Australia on 1st January 2004.
Msida began to take on the vestiges of a town in the late 18th century when a leading German Knight of the Order of St John had a house here. He funded the building of a washing place for local people, and the vaulted building still stands and is used today by fishermen to house their boats and nets.
Apart from pleasant marina-side walks and views, Msida highlights include one of Malta' unique cave chapels and an elegant baroque church, St Joseph's, built at the turn of the 19th century.
All traffic running beteen the northern side of the island and the capital city passes through Msida, so the traffic is very busy area (cross the road at your own risk). Things get very quiet as you walk up the hill into the residential areas though. The government-run Junior College is located in Msida too, and serves about 2,500 students aged 16 to 18, who bring even more life to Msida during term-time.
Msida Weblinks
Please note that these links are provided for informational purposes, and their inclusion here does not mean that we endorse their content. Problems? Contact the webservant.
The current capital city of Malta is Valletta, located next to the Grand Harbour. This was not always the case however, and visitors to our island continue to be entranced by the "old capital", Mdina...
The village of Mellieha is situated in the North West area of Malta, and is surrounded by lovely beaches and places of interest.
Important: not to be confused with the other village of Mgarr (!) which is a port village on the island of Gozo, and also referred to as "Mgarr ix-Xini".
The town's name derives from the Arabic 'musta', meaning centre. This is probably because Mosta lies at the heart of Malta, along the Great Fault that runs east-west across the Island. (We tend to have a mild tremor every couple of years or so).
The name Msida comes from the Arabic 'msayda', meaning 'a fisherman's dwelling'. Today, it is known for boats of a different kind as the creek houses the modern Msida Yacht Marina with its 250 or more yacht berths.