Rabat, Malta

Local council in Northern Region, Malta

Rabat Ir-Rabat
Local council
Collegiate Basilica of St. Paul in Rabat
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s): Ġawhra Prezzjuża Magħrufa Tleqq (Original Latin: Notabilis gemma fulget) (English: A precious gem known as radiant.)

Coordinates: 35°52′54″N 14°23′56″E / 35.88167°N 14.39889°E / 35.88167; 14.39889
Country	Malta
Region	Northern Region
District	Western District
Borders	Attard, Dingli, Mdina, Mġarr, Mosta, Mtarfa, Siġġiewi, Żebbuġ
Government
• Type	Mayor–council government
• Body	Rabat Local Council
• Mayor	Sandro Craus (PL)
Area
• Total	26.64 km² (10.29 sq mi)
Population (2021)
• Total	11,936
• Density	450/km² (1,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Rabti (m), Rabtija (f), Rabtin (pl)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	RBT
Dialing code	356
ISO 3166 code	MT-46
Patron saint	Saint Paul; Saint Joseph; Corpus Christi; Our Lady of The Girdle; Our Lady of Good Health; Saint Martin; Immaculate Conception
Day of festa	First Sunday of July; March 19; Second Sunday of June; First Sunday of September; Second Sunday of October; Nearest Sunday to November 11; December 8
Website	Official website

Rabat (Maltese: Ir-Rabat, [ɪrˈrɐbɐt]) is a town in the Northern Region of Malta, with a population of 11,497 as of March 2014.^[1] It adjoins the ancient capital city of Mdina, and a north-western area formed part of the Roman city of Melite until its medieval retrenchment.

The Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See to the Republic of Malta is seated in this village. The Local Council of Rabat is also the administrator of Baħrija. Parts of the films Munich and Black Eagle were shot in Rabat. In December 1999, Mtarfa was split from Rabat to form a separate Local Council by Act XXI, an amendment to the Local Council Act of 1993 (Act XV).

Etymology

Rabat is a Semitic word which can mean "fortified town" or "suburb".^[2] The Arabic term Ribat refers to a small fortification to host military volunteers.^[3]

Catacombs

Rabat is home to the Catacombs of St. Paul and of St. Agatha.^[4] These catacombs were used in Roman times to bury the dead as, according to Roman culture, it was unhygienic to bury the dead in the city.^[5] Mdina and parts of Rabat were built on top of the ancient Roman city of Melite. The Maltese catacombs were never meant to be hiding places during persecutions or as living quarters.^[6]

The Catacombs of St. Paul are now administered by Heritage Malta.^[7] Part of St. Paul's Catacombs, the part accessible from the Parish tradition and as recorded in the Bible, St. Paul stayed for three months when he was shipwrecked on the island in AD 60.^[8]

In the Catacombs of St Agatha's, there are over 500 graves of several types, the majority being for children. There are sections for pagans and Jews, as well as for Christians. There are also unique frescoes.^[9] Another feature of the Maltese catacombs is the agape table, two of which, carved out of bedrock, were found in the Catacombs of St. Paul.^[10]

Buildings

St Pauls Collegiate and Grotto
Nativity of Our Lady church (k.a. Ta’Qasha) in St Rita Street.
St. Pauls - Count Roger Band Club
Archbishop Seminary
Augustinian Priory
Annunciation Church (Carmelite Fathers)
Casa Cosmana Navarra
Church dedicated to St Martin of Tours (Baħrija)
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Mtaħleb)
Church of St. Catherine (Tad-Daħla)
Church of the Immaculate Conception (Wied Gerżuma)
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (Tas-Salib)
Church of the Blessed Virgin (Dominican Order)
Church of the Blessed Virgin (Franciscan Minors)
Church of St. Francis (Conventual Franciscans)
Collegiate Basilica of St Paul
Count Roger Band Club
Dominican Priory
Domus Romana
Dwejra Lines
Fort Binġemma
Għajn Għeriexem
L’Isle Adam Band Club
Loġġa tal-Palju
Saint Nicholas College - (Primary School A and B)
Santo Spirito Hospital - (National Archives of Malta)
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Health
St. Agatha’s Catacombs and Crypt
St. Agatha's Church (Missionary Society of St Paul)
St. Bartholomew's Church
St. Catald's Church
St. Luke Pastoral Centre - Nigret
St. Mark's Church (Augustinians)
St. Paul's Catacombs
St. Paul's Missionary College
St. Sebastian's Church
Ta' Duna Church
Museum Station
Nicola Saura Hospital – Ospiza Saura
Niche of St. Paul in Saqqajja
Wignacourt Museum

Districts in Rabat

Baħrija
Bieb ir-Ruwa
Landrijiet
Għajn Qajjet
Għar Barka
Kunċizzjoni
Fomm ir-Riħ
Miġra Ferħa
Tas-Salvatur
Tas-Salib
Il-Lunzjata
Għemieri (Gomerino)
Għajn Klieb
Ħofra ta' Ritz
Il-Ħemsija
Misraħ Suffara
Mtaħleb
Nigret
Nigret tal-Ħarruba
Raba Nemel
Ras ir-Raħeb
Rdum tal-Lunzjata
Rdum tal-Vigarju
Ħal-Bajjada
Ta'Qasgha`
Ta' Busugrilla
Ta' Cassia
Ta' Fantin
Ta' Gerżuma
Ta' Lawrenti
Ta' Manduca
Ta' Namura
Ta' Sirena
Tal-Infetti
Tabja
Tal-Forok
Tal-Marġa
Tal-Virtù
Tat-Torri
Tax-Xieref
Ras ir-Raħeb
Santa Katarina (tad-Daħla)
Saqqajja
Wied Gerżuma
Wied il-Baħrija
Wied il-Bużbież
Wied il-Fiddien
Wied iż-Żebbuġ
Wied Liemu
Wied Rini
Wied tal-Isqof
Wied tal-Marġa
Xagħra tal-Isqof

Thoroughfares

Misraħ il-Parroċċa (Parish Square)
Misraħ San Duminku (Sant Dominic Square)
Pjazza tas-Saqqajja (Saqqajja Square)
Telgħa tas-Saqqajja (Saqqajja Hill)
Triq Ġorġ Borg Olivier (George Borg Olivier Road)
Triq Għajn Qajjet (Ghajn Qajjet Road)
Triq Għeriexem (Gheriexem Street)
Triq Ħad-Dingli (Dingli Road)
Triq Ħal Bajjada (Hal Bajjada Street)
Triq il-Buskett (Buskett Road)
Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
Triq il-Kulleġġ (College Street)
Triq it-Tiġrija (Tigrija Street)
Triq Santa Rita (St Rita Street)
Triq tat-Tabija (Tabija Street)
Vjal il-Ħaddiem (Labour Avenue)

Band clubs and feasts

St. Paul, Conte Roger Band Club (Każin San Pawl Banda Konti Ruġġieru)^[11]
St. Joseph, L'Isle Adam Band Club A.D. 1860 (L-Għaqda Mużikali L'Isle Adam A.D. 1860) http://www.bandalisleadam.com/
Festa Titulari tal-martirju ta’ San Pawl http://sanpawl.rabatmalta.com
Festa Sekondarja ta' San Gużepp http://sanguzepp.rabatmalta.com
Festa Prinċipali u Solenni ta' Corpus Domini
Festa tal-Madonna taċ-Ċintura http://www.rabatmalta.com/amcsaa
Festa ta' Santa Katarina tad-daħla
Festa ta' San Anton Abbati
Festa tal-Madonna tas-Saħħa
Festa tal-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni
Festa tat-Twelid ta-Marija - l-Imtaħleb
Festa ta' San Martin - Baħrija

Sport

Rabat has its own football club called Rabat Ajax F.C. Rabat won the Maltese Premier League twice (1984–85 Maltese Premier League and 1985–86 Maltese Premier League), and the Maltese Cup once in 1986.

Twin towns — sister cities

Rabat is twinned with:^[12]

Tarquinia, Italy

References

^ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
^ Tesch, Noah, ed. (2013). Cyprus, Greece, and Malta. The Britannica Guide to Countries of the European Union. Britannica Educational Publishing. p. 150. ISBN 9781615309856. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
^ Northedge, Alastair. "ʿAbbāsid art and architecture". Encyclopedia of Islam. 3.
^ "UNESCO". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
^ "ThoughtCo". ThoughtCo.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
^ "Catacombs - St. Agatha, Malta". stagathamalta.com. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
^ "Heritage Malta". HeritageMalta.mt. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
^ Rix, Juliet (2010). Malta and Gozo. London: Bradt travel guides. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-84162-312-2.
^ Travelling Wizards (2011). Malta - The Mythical Island. p. 27. ISBN 9781460921012.
^ Rix, Juliet (2013). Malta and Gozo. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 225. ISBN 9781841624525.
^ "Banda Konti Ruggieru". Archived from the original on 2011-01-28.
^ "Twinning". localgovernment.gov.mt. Government of Malta. Retrieved 2019-09-18.