Mosta Dome – Ir-Rotunda tal-Mosta
The Mosta Dome, commonly known as the Rotunda of Mosta, (Maltese: Ir-Rotunda tal-Mosta), is the third largest unsupported Dome in Europe, and the sixth largest in the world. The Mosta Dome is a Roman Catholic parrish church and Minor Basilica, built between 1833 and 1860 and dedicated to the Assumption of Mary.
Its façade has a portico with six iconic columns, which is flanked by two bell towers. Being a rotunda, the church has a circular plan with walls about 9.1m (30 ft) thick supporting a dome with an internal diameter of 37.2m (122 ft).
The design of the present church is in the neoclassical style and its structure based on the Pantheon in Rome. Before the Church was built, there was some opposition to Giorgio Grognet de Vasse’s design, since some regarded a Roman temple as an unsuitable model for a Catholic Church building. However, others praised the design and upon completion, was well-received. It is now regarded as Grognet’s Masterpiece.
During Word War 11, the town of Mosta was prone to an aerial bombardment as it was close to the airfield at Ta’ Qali.
On the 9th of April,1942, the Luftwaffe dropped three bombs on the Church, two deflected without exploding but one 500 kg high explosive bomb pierced the dome and entered the church, where more than 300 people were awaiting early evening mass.
The bomb did not explode and was interpreted as a miracle. A replica of the bomb is now displayed in the sacristy at the back of the Church.
Ta’ Qali Crafts Village
Ta’ Qali is a wide-open space in the limits of Attard in the central part of Malta. Here we find the National Football Stadium, National Park, a Crafts Village, plus a National Vegetable market which is locally known as the Pitkalija.
Shortly before World War 11, the area was used to build a military aerodrome and a station for the Royal Air Force (RAF), better known as RAF ta’ Kali. This was operational throughout the war and continued to be used as an RAF airfield until the mid-1950s.
Today, many of the old Nissen huts and military buildings have been converted into workshops where Maltese craftsmen produce their hard work. The Craft Village, has brought together a group of skilled Maltese artists, sculptors, producers of ceramics and stone, local producers of food and drinks, furniture makers and metal workers. These artisans create a wide range of genuinely attractive objects and arts of high quality from hand-blown glassware in all shapes and sizes to the internationally renowned Maltese lace, from pottery to the finest filigree jewellery.
Whether you are looking for a gift for friends or family or just memorabilia, then this is the place. At the very least you will get to spend some time watching skilled raft people at work.
Lastly the Crafts Village is also the location of the Malta Aviation Museum where one can find different types of aircraft related to Maltese Aviation history.
POPEYE Village
Popeye Village, also known as Sweethaven Village, is a purpose-built film set village that has been converted into a small attraction fun park, consisting of a collection of rustic and ramshackle wooden buildings. It is located at Prajjet Bay/Anchor Bay, 3 km (2 mi) from the village core of Mewllieha, Malta.
It was built as a film set for the production of the 1980 llive action film muscical feature film Popeye, produced by Partamount Pictures and Walt Disney Productions starring Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall. It is open to the public as an open-air museum and seaside resort.[
The construction of the film set began in June 1979. A construction crew of 165 working over seven months was needed to build the village, which consists of nineteen wooden buildings. Hundreds of logs and several thousand wooden planks were imported from the Netherelands, while wood shingles used in the construction of the roof tops were imported from Canada. Eight tons of nails and 2.5 cubic metres (2,000 US gal) of paint were also used in construction. addition, a 60–75 m (197–246 ft) bThe set was completed in seven months, and filming commenced on January 23, 1980 and wrapped later that year on June 19. The film, based on the comic strips by E-C Segar, is set around the fictional village of Sweethaven, where Popeye the sailor arrives in an attempt to find his long-lost father.
Golden Sands Beach
Golden Bay is one of Malta’s most popular sandy beaches. Despite this accolade, it is set among countryside and is relatively undeveloped. It has easy access making it Golden Bay suitable for the less mobile or those with small children.Golden Bay has the facilities you need for the day – a cafe-restaurant, sun lounger and umbrella hire, and plenty of fun water sports from jet skiing and paragliding to banana boat rides. The atmosphere here is both chic and family fun. As the second largest sandy beach in Malta, there is usually room for games. The spectacular sunsets here have made the beach a popular spot for evening barbecues. Beach management is operated by the Malta Tourism Authority from 15th June to 15th September. Lifeguards and other beach staff are present daily during this period. The beach is generally safe for swimming but it is prone to strong currents when the wind is to the north-west. A red flag indicates when bathing should be limited to shallow waters only.The bay forms part of Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park and a Natura 2000 site.
Golden Sands Beach has also been the location used for most of the production of the film TROY.
