Photos of the Northwest of Malta, Malta

OzOutback
Images of the World
Flag of Malta

The Northwest of Malta

The “Three Villages”, Attard, Balzan and Lija, are close together in the centre of Malta. When the Order of St. John governed Malta, they were a favourite site for country residences and hunting lodges. The San Anton Palace in Attard (Ħ'Attard) is the official residence of the President of Malta.

San Anton Gardens and Palace
 
Street in Lija
 
Street to the Rotunda
 
Rotunda of Mosta
 
Dome, Rotunda of Mosta
 
Interior, Rotunda of Mosta
 
Bomb replica, Rotunda of Mosta
 
Balconies, Mdina
 
Triq Santa Sofija
 
Triq Villegaignon
 
St. Paul’s Cathedral
 
St. Paul’s Cathedral interior
 
St. Paul’s Cathedral chapel
 
Dome view, St. Paul’s Cathedral
 
Dome St. Paul’s Cathedral
 
Organ, St. Paul’s Cathedral
 
View from Mdina citadel
 
Mosaic, Domvs Romana
 
Parish Church of St. Paul, Rabat
 
St. Paul's statue, Rabat
 
Altar and graves, St. Paul's Grotto
 
Music procession, Rabat
 
St. Francis church, Rabat
 
Statue of St. Francis
 
Procession returning, Rabat
 
Buskett Gardens
 
View to Dingli
 
Cliffs of Dingli
 
Parish Church, Mġarr
 
Bay of Għajn Tuffieħa
 
Golden Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa
 
Popeye Village
 
View of Popeye Village
 
Mellieħa Bay
 
Xemxija Bay, St. Paul’s Bay
 
Buġibba, St. Paul’s Bay
 

The town of Mosta is known for its Rotunda, a Roman Catholic parish church and Minor Basilica, built in the mid-19th century with a large dome inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. On 9 April 1942, the German Luftwaffe dropped two bombs on the church; one deflected without exploding, but one 500 kg high explosive bomb pierced the dome and entered the church. A congregation of more than 250 people was there for early evening mass. The bomb did not explode, interpreted as a miracle by the inhabitants. A similar bomb is displayed in the sacristy at the back of the church.

South of Mosta is Mdina (from Arabic “Medina”, City), also known by its Italian titles Città Vecchia (Old City) or Città Notabile. This fortified city served as the island’s capital from antiquity to the Middle Ages. Adjoining it is Rabat (a Semitic word meaning “fortified town”), and both formed part of the Roman city of Melite. In 60 CE, the Apostle Paul reputedly lived in a cave; the Parish Church of St. Paul in Rabat is built over it. And St. Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina is founded on the site where, according to tradition, Roman governor Publius met him following his shipwreck on Malta’s north coast.

There are scenic spots like the cliffs of Dingli and sandy beaches along the northwest coast of the island; Golden Bay, in Għajn Tuffieħa, is one of the most popular, but Mellieħa (or Għadira) Bay is Malta’s largest sandy beach. According to tradition, St. Paul’s Bay (San Pawl il-Baħar) is the place where, in 60 CE, the Apostle, on his way to Rome to be tried as a political rebel, was shipwrecked. Xemxija, with its fishing harbour, and Buġibba are now popular resorts.