Rabat, Malta


Rabat is a town in the Western Region of Malta, with a population of 11,497 as of March 2014. It adjoins the ancient capital city of Mdina, and a north-western part of Rabat was in the Roman city of Melite until its medieval retrenchment.
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 was split from Rabat to form a separate Local Council by Act XXI, an amendment to the Local Council Act of 1993. In 2021, Rabat was transferred from the Northern Region to the newly-created Western Region as part of a reorganization of the regions of Malta.

Etymology

Rabat is an Arabic word which can mean "fortified town" or "suburb". The Arabic term Ribat refers to a small fortification to host military volunteers.

Catacombs

Rabat is home to the Catacombs of St. Paul and of St. Agatha. The Romans dug these catacombs outside their city as a burial place for the dead; they considered burial in the city unhygienic. Mdina and parts of Rabat were later built on top of the ancient Roman city of Melite. The Maltese catacombs were never meant to be hiding places during persecutions or as living quarters.
The Catacombs of St. Paul are now administered 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 here for three months when he was shipwrecked on the island in AD 60.
In the Catacombs of St Agatha's, there are over 500 graves of several types, the majority being children's graves. There are sections for pagans and Jews, as well as for Christians. There are also unique frescoes. Another feature of the Maltese catacombs is the agape table, two of which, carved out of bedrock, were found in the Catacombs of St. Paul.

Buildings

Districts in Rabat

  • Baħrija
  • Bieb ir-Ruwa
  • Landrijiet
  • Għajn Qajjet
  • Għar Barka
  • Kunċizzjoni
  • Fomm ir-Riħ
  • Miġra Ferħa
  • Tas-Salvatur
  • Tas-Salib
  • Il-Lunzjata
  • Għemieri
  • Għajn Klieb
  • Ħofra ta' Ritz
  • Il-Ħemsija
  • Misraħ Suffara
  • Mtaħleb
  • Nigret
  • Nigret tal-Ħarruba
  • Raba Nemel
  • Ras ir-Raħeb
  • Rdum tal-Lunzjata
  • Rdum tal-Vigarju
  • Ħal-Bajjada
  • Ta'Qasgha`
  • Ta' Busugrilla
  • Ta' Cassia
  • Ta' Fantin
  • Ta' Gerżuma
  • Ta' Lawrenti
  • Ta' Manduca
  • Ta' Namura
  • Ta' Sirena
  • Tal-Infetti
  • Tabja
  • Tal-Forok
  • Tal-Marġa
  • Tal-Virtù
  • Tat-Torri
  • Tax-Xieref
  • Ras ir-Raħeb
  • Santa Katarina
  • Saqqajja
  • Wied Gerżuma
  • Wied il-Baħrija
  • Wied il-Bużbież
  • Wied il-Fiddien
  • Wied iż-Żebbuġ
  • Wied Liemu
  • Wied Rini
  • Wied tal-Isqof
  • Wied tal-Marġa
  • Xagħra tal-Isqof

Thoroughfares

  • Misraħ il-Parroċċa
  • Misraħ San Duminku
  • Pjazza tas-Saqqajja
  • Telgħa tas-Saqqajja
  • Triq Ġorġ Borg Olivier
  • Triq Għajn Qajjet
  • Triq Għeriexem
  • Triq Ħad-Dingli
  • Triq Ħal Bajjada
  • Triq il-Buskett
  • Triq il-Kbira
  • Triq il-Kulleġġ
  • Triq it-Tiġrija
  • Triq Santa Rita
  • Triq tat-Tabija
  • Vjal il-Ħaddiem

Band clubs and feasts

  • St. Paul, Conte Roger Band Club
  • St. Joseph, L'Isle Adam Band Club A.D. 1860 http://www.bandalisleadam.com/
  • Festa Titulari tal-martirju ta’ San Pawl http://sanpawl.rabatmalta.com
  • Festa Sekondarja ta' San Gużepp http://sanguzepp.rabatmalta.com
  • Festa Prinċipali u Solenni ta' Corpus Domini
  • Festa tal-Madonna taċ-Ċintura http://www.rabatmalta.com/amcsaa
  • Festa ta' Santa Katarina tad-daħla
  • Festa ta' San Anton Abbati
  • Festa tal-Madonna tas-Saħħa
  • Festa tal-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni
  • Festa tat-Twelid ta-Marija - l-Imtaħleb
  • Festa ta' San Martin - Baħrija

Sport

Rabat has its own football club called Rabat Ajax F.C. Rabat won the Maltese Premier League twice, and the Maltese Cup once in 1986.

Twin towns — sister cities

Rabat is twinned with: