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Rabat, Malta

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This article is about the town located near Mdina, Malta. For the town of the same name on Malta's island of Gozo, see Victoria, Gozo.

Rabat (Maltese: Ir-Rabat, [ɪrˈrɐbɐt]) is a town in the Western 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.

Rabat
Ir-Rabat
Local council
Collegiate Basilica of St. Paul in Rabat
Collegiate Basilica of St. Paul in Rabat
Flag of Rabat
Flag
Coat of arms of Rabat
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
RegionWestern Region
DistrictWestern District
BordersAttard, Dingli, Mdina, Mġarr, Mosta, Mtarfa, Siġġiewi, Żebbuġ
Government
 • TypeMayor–council government
 • BodyRabat Local Council
 • MayorSandro Craus (PL)
Area
 • Total26.64 km2 (10.29 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total11,936
 • Density450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Rabti (m), Rabtija (f), Rabtin (pl)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
RBT
Dialing code356
ISO 3166 codeMT-46
Patron saintSaint Paul; Saint Joseph; Corpus Christi; Our Lady of The Girdle; Our Lady of Good Health; Saint Martin; Immaculate Conception
Day of festaFirst Sunday of July; March 19; Second Sunday of June; First Sunday of September; Second Sunday of October; Nearest Sunday to November 11; December 8
WebsiteOfficial website

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). In 2021, Rabat was transferred from the Northern Region to the newly-created Western Region as part of a reorganization of the regions of Malta.

Etymology

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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

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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 here 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 children's graves. 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

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Hotel Point de Vue, Rabat, in the 1930s

Districts in Rabat

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  • 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

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  • 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

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Sport

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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

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See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Malta

Rabat is twinned with:[12]

References

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