Rabat, Malta

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Rabat
Il-Kunsill Lokali tar-Rabat
—  Local council  —
Ir-Rabat
Roundabout near the Roman Domus, Rabat

Flag
Coordinates: 35°52′54″N 14°23′56″E / 35.88167°N 14.39889°E / 35.88167; 14.39889Coordinates: 35°52′54″N 14°23′56″E / 35.88167°N 14.39889°E / 35.88167; 14.39889
Country  Malta
Island Malta
District
Borders Mdina, Mtarfa, Mġarr, Mosta, Dingli, Siġġiewi, Attard, Żebbuġ
Government
 • Mayor Sandro Craus (PL)
Area
 • Total 26.6 km2 (10.3 sq mi)
Population (March 2011)
 • Total 7,064
 • Density Bad rounding here270/km2 (Bad rounding here690/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 Official website
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 population of Rabat is 7,064 as of March 2011.[1]

The village shares a name with the capital of Morocco. 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).

Contents

Catacombs [edit]

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 unclean to bury the dead in the city (Mdina and parts of Rabat were built on top of an ancient Roman city). The Catacombs were also where early Christians secretly met and performed Mass until Constantine I made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and therefore stopped persecuting Christians. The Catacombs are now looked after by Heritage Malta, the organisation which looks after most of the museums and temples in 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.

Rabat Local Council [edit]

The current Rabat local council members are:

  • Craus Alexander, known as Sandro (Mayor, PL)
  • Cassar Nazju (PN)
  • Borg Antoine (PN)
  • Doris Coleiro (PL)
  • Robert Micallef (PN)
  • Paul Grech (PL)
  • Rudolph Grima (PN)
  • Peter Paul Azzopardi (PL)
  • Frans Chircop (PL)

Zones in Rabat [edit]

  • Landrijiet
  • Ghajn Kajjet
  • Kuncizzjoni
  • Fomm ir-Rih
  • Migra Ferha
  • Tas-Salvatur
  • Tas-Salib
  • Dwejra
  • Nadur
  • Bieb ir-Ruwa
  • Il-Lunzjata
  • Baħrija
  • Ghemieri (Gomerino)
  • Ghajn Klieb
  • Il-Ħemsija
  • Misraħ Suffara
  • Mtaħleb
  • Nigret
  • Nigret tal-Ħarruba
  • Ras ir-Raħeb
  • Rdum tal-Lunzjata
  • Rdum tal-Vigarju
  • Hal-Bajjada
  • Santa Katarina (tad-Dahla)
  • Saqqajja
  • Ta' Busugrilla
  • Ta' Cassia
  • Ta' Fantin
  • Ta' Gerżuma
  • Ta' Lawrenti
  • Ta' Manduca
  • Ta' Namura
  • Ta' Sirena
  • Ta' l-Infetti
  • Tabja
  • Tal-Forok
  • Tal-Marġa
  • Tal-Virtù
  • Tat-Torri
  • Tax-Xieref
  • Wied Gerżuma
  • Wied il-Baħrija
  • Wied il-Bużbież
  • Wied il-Fiddien
  • Wied iż-Żebbuġ
  • Wied Liemu
  • Wied Rini
  • Wied ta' l-Isqof
  • Wied tal-Marġa
  • Xagħra ta' l-Isqof
  • Ghar Barka

Band Clubs and Feasts [edit]

Sport [edit]

Rabat is also known for its 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 [edit]

  1. ^ "Population statistics". Malta Government Gazette. mjha.gov.mt. 9 August 2011. 

External links [edit]