Rabat
Local council
Flag of Rabat
Flag
Coat of arms of Rabat
Coat of arms
Motto: 
Ħaġra Prezzjuża Magħrufa Bħala Tleqq
Coordinates: 35°52′54″N 14°23′56″E / 35.88167°N 14.39889°E / 35.88167; 14.39889
Country Malta
RegionNorthern Region
DistrictWestern District
BordersAttard, Dingli, Mdina, Mġarr, Mosta, Mtarfa, Siġġiewi, Żebbuġ
Government
 • MayorCharles Azzopardi (PL)
Area
 • Total26.6 km2 (10.3 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)
 • Total11,470
 • Density430/km2 (1,100/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

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] Half of the present-day village core also formed part of the Roman city of Melite, before the latter was resized during the medieval period. 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

Districts

Thoroughfares

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.

Twin towns — sister cities

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

Rabat is twinned with:[2]

References

  1. ^ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Twinning". localgovernment.gov.mt. Government of Malta. Retrieved 2019-09-18.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rabat (Malta).
Local councils and administrative committees of Malta and Gozo
Authority control databases
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