Rabat, Malta

This article is about the Maltese village. For the capital city of Morocco, see Rabat. For the Maltese town also called Rabat, on the island of Gozo, see Victoria, Gozo.
Rabat
Ir-Rabat
Local council
Il-Kunsill Lokali tar-Rabat

Parish Square of Rabat

Flag
Coat of arms
Coordinates: 35°52′54″N 14°23′56″E / 35.88167°N 14.39889°ECoordinates: 35°52′54″N 14°23′56″E / 35.88167°N 14.39889°E
Country  Malta
Island Malta
District Western District
Borders Mdina, Mtarfa, Mġarr, Mosta, Dingli, Siġġiewi, Attard, Żebbuġ
Government
 • Mayor Charles Azzopardi (PL)
Area
 • Total 26.6 km2 (10.3 sq mi)
Population (March 2011)
 • Total 7,064
 • Density 270/km2 (690/sq mi)
Demonym Rabti (m), Rabtija (f), Rabtin (pl)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code RBT
Dialing code 356
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 http://www.rabatlocalcouncil.com/
Buses 51, 52, 53 from Valletta terminus, Stop at Bus Stop named "Rabat 3"
St. Paul's church

Rabat (or Ir-Rabat) is a village just outside Mdina, Malta. The name of the village 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 Melita, 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 film 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).

The village shares a name with the capital of Morocco. Another town in Malta, on the island of Gozo, is also colloquially called Rabat, but it's official name is Victoria.

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 church which is dedicated to the same Saint, was where, according to 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.

Rabat Local Council

The current Rabat Local Council members are:

Zones in Rabat

Main Roads

Band Clubs and Feasts

Sport

Rabat also have its own football club, Rabat Ajax F.C.. In Fact 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

    http://www.rabatlocalcouncil.com/latest-news/curabitur-convallis.html http://stagathamalta.com/catacombs.html http://sanpawl.rabatmalta.com/ http://sanguzepp.rabatmalta.com/ http://www.bandalisleadam.com/ http://www.rabatmalta.com/?page_id=355 http://www.sanguzepprabat.org.mt

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rabat (Malta).