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 (Act XV). 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".[2] The Arabic term Ribat refers to a small fortification to host military volunteers.[3]
Catacombs
Rabat is home to the Catacombs of St. Paul and of St. Agatha.[4] The Romans dug these catacombs outside their city as a burial place for the dead; they considered burial in the city unhygienic.[5]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.[6]
The Catacombs of St. Paul are now administered by Heritage Malta.[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] 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.[10]
Buildings
Hotel Point de Vue, Rabat, in the 1930s
St Pauls Collegiate and Grotto
Nativity of Our Lady church (k.a. Ta’Qasha) in St Rita Street.
↑Tesch, Noah, ed. (2013). Cyprus, Greece, and Malta. The Britannica Guide to Countries of the European Union. Britannica Educational Publishing. p.150. ISBN9781615309856. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
↑Northedge, Alastair. "ʿAbbāsid art and architecture". Encyclopedia of Islam. 3.
↑"UNESCO". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
↑"ThoughtCo". ThoughtCo.com. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
