Rotunda of Mosta

The Rotunda of Mosta, commonly called the Mosta Dome, is a large circular parish church in Mosta, Malta, notable for its monumental single-span dome. Construction dates place it in the 19th century and it is an important example of Neoclassical church architecture on the island.

The interior centers on the vast domed space above the nave and is used for regular worship and civic events; the dome ranks among the largest unsupported masonry or concrete domes in Europe. The church is well known for its size and central plan, which draw visitors interested in architecture and Maltese ecclesiastical history.

The current rotunda was designed in the 19th century by a local architect and completed during that century; it replaced an earlier, smaller church on the same site and has served as the parish church of Mosta since its completion. Its wartime survival during World War II is a noted episode in the building’s history.

The church sits in the town of Mosta in central Malta, a short distance from the island’s main road network and roughly midway between Valletta and Mdina. Mosta is in a densely settled part of central Malta rather than on the coast.

• Architectural note: The church dome is one of the largest unsupported domes in Europe, and the interior is frequently used for parish services and concerts.
• Historic anecdote: A bomb struck the dome during World War II while a service was in progress; the device did not explode and the event is widely commemorated at the church.