Rotunda of Mosta
| Rotunda of St Marija Assunta Knisja Arċipretali Ta’ Santa Marija (Maltese) | |
|---|---|
Facade of the Rotunda of St Marija Assunta. | |
| Basic information | |
| Location |  Mosta, Malta |
| Geographic coordinates | 35°54′36.29″N 14°25′33.24″E / 35.9100806°N 14.4259000°ECoordinates: 35°54′36.29″N 14°25′33.24″E / 35.9100806°N 14.4259000°E |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Year consecrated | 1871 |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Parish |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Giorgio Grognet de Vassé |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Direction of façade | SSE |
| Groundbreaking | 1614 |
| Completed | 1860s |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 75 metres (246 ft) |
| Width | 55 metres (180 ft) |
The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, commonly known as the Rotunda of Mosta or Rotunda of St Marija Assunta (sometimes shortened to as The Mosta Dome) is a Roman Catholic church in Mosta, Malta. It is the fourth largest unsupported dome in the world and the third largest in Europe.
Built in the 19th century on the site of a previous church, it was designed by the Maltese architect Giorgio Grognet de Vassé. Its dome is among the largest in the world, with an internal diameter of 37.2 metres (122 ft).[1][2] The rotunda walls are nearly 9.1 metres (30 ft) thick.[1] The rotunda dome is the third-largest church dome in Europe and the ninth largest in the world.
Grongnet's plans were based on the Pantheon in Rome. Construction began in May 1833 and was completed in the 1860s. The original church was left in place while the Rotunda was built around it, allowing the local people to have a place of worship while the new church was being built. The church was officially consecrated the 15 October 1871.[3]
Mosta bomb miracle
On April 9, 1942, during an afternoon air-raid, a 200 kg Luftwaffe bomb pierced the dome (two others bounced off) and fell among a congregation of more than 300 people awaiting early evening mass. It did not explode. Its replica is now on display inside the rotunda under the words Il-Miraklu tal-Bomba, 9 ta' April 1942 (Maltese: The Bomb Miracle, April 9, 1942).
Gallery
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Interior of the Rotunda of St Marija Assunta
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View of the dome from inside the church.
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Replica of the bomb which pierced the dome. Nowadays the area where the bomb hit is still visible.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Macdonald 2002, p. 156
- ↑ Cauchi 1988, p. 79
- ↑ http://maltadiocese.org/lang/en/parishes/mosta/
See also
- List of Churches in Malta
- List of largest domes in the world
References
- Macdonald, William (2002). The Pantheon:design, meaning, and progeny. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-0-674-01019-2.
- Cauchi, Raymond (1988). The Mosta Rotunda: short history & guide. Cauchi's Emporium.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rotunda of St. Marija Assunta, Mosta. |