The Pantheon of Malta
A Pantheon in Malta? Of course! In the village of Mosta to be precise. The world famous Mosta Rotunda, allegedly the third largest unsupported dome in Europe and the ninth in the world. Built on the design of architect Giorgio Grognet de Vasse over a twenty seven year period between 1833 and 1860 and constructed and funded entirely by the villagers who at the time did not number more than one thousand five hundred. A village which today still counts less than twenty thousand souls.
The architect Grognet de Vasse was a Maltese of French origin, an eccentric man who was also the first to promulgate the speculation that the Maltese Islands were the location of the legendary lost continent of Atlantis, a theory which some continue to maintain to this day. In planning for his greatest undertaking, the building of the huge church in Mosta, he wanted to ensure that the stone he used was the strongest available. To be sure of this, he tested slabs from each and every limestone quarry on the island until he settle on a relatively local source from the Ta’ Vnezja quarry near Ta’ Qali.
The building’s plan was based on that of the Pantheon in Rome and the huge unsupported dome, with an internal diameter of 37.2 metres (122 feet), necessitated walls with a 9.1 metre (30 foot) thickness, almost that of a fortified wall! The Rotunda, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, was constructed over the older, smaller church to enable worshippers to continue attending mass in the locality during the 27 year period of construction.
A potentially destructive incident took place on 9 April 1942, at the height of the Axis blitz on Malta. A Luftwaffe bomber on the way back to Sicily after a sortie on one of the Island’s airfields or harbours, dropped three bombs onto the dome, at a time when a congregation of around 300 was gathered inside the church for early evening mass. Two of the shells bounced off the roof to explode outside, while the third bomb actually pierced the dome and landed amongst the terrified congregation. Luckily it did not explode and the event went down into the locality’s history as a miraculous sign of divine intervention. A replica of the unexploded shell is exhibited in the church to this very day.
A world-class monument in a small village. With an interesting and eccentrically charming history to match. Very typically Maltese…………
Great write-up Leslie! Is it true that the church was partly funded through the sale of eggs that local farmers donated every Sunday?
No Astrid, that is the Mgarr Church, you are referring to.
Many thanks Astrid! I believe that the one funded through egg sales was neighbouring Mgarr. I have to research that for another story!!
Ah! I know that Mgarr was called il-Knisja tal-bajd but I wondered if that was because of its oval shape. Your articles are a joy to read, well done!
What a nice write up and pictures! That is the village which i grew up in and still live in. !!!
It is a beautiful place to be proud of Maria! And thanks for your nice comment.
My Mother (R.I.P.) was part of the Mass on that day in April 1942 & often told us the story of the “Bomba”. I was amazed to see this beautiful church on my visit in 2010.
Many thanks Margaret for adding this human dimension to the story.
Well Done Leslie.
Many thanks George!
Could Margaret relate her mother’s story here? Many of us would love to hear a first-hand account of this famous episode in Malta’s wartime history.
It would be a pleasure to host it here Astrid and Margaret!