Rabat, Malta

Rabat
Local council
Main Parish Church of Rabat

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): Ħaġra Prezzjuża Magħrufa Bħala Tleqq
Coordinates: 35°52′54″N 14°23′56″E / 35.88167°N 14.39889°E / 35.88167; 14.39889Coordinates: 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
 • Mayor Charles Azzopardi (PL)
Area
 • Total 26.6 km2 (10.3 sq mi)
Population (March 2014)
 • Total 11,497
 • Density 430/km2 (1,100/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] The name of the town is derived from the Arabic word for 'suburb': الرباط, as it was the suburb of the old capital Mdina. Half of the present-day village core also formed part of the Roman city of Melite, before the latter was resized during the Fatimid occupation. 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 seceded from Rabat to form a separate Local Council by Act XXI, an amendment to the Local Council Act of 1993 (Act XV).

Catacombs

Rabat is home to the famous Catacombs of St. Paul and of St. Agatha. 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 Mdina and parts of Rabat were built on top of an ancient Roman city. The Maltese Catacombs were never meant to be hiding places during persecutions or as living quarters.

The Catacombs of St. Paul are now looked after by Heritage Malta. 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 60 A.D.

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 Frescos.

Another interesting feature in the Maltese Catacombs is the Agape Table.

Buildings

Hotel Point de Vue, Rabat, in the 1930s

Zones 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
  • Il-Ħemsija
  • Misraħ Suffara
  • Mtaħleb
  • Nigret
  • Nigret tal-Ħarruba
  • 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

Main Roads

  • 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

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.

References

  1. ↑ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
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