Mosta des del cel / Mosta from the air

IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE

Una de les esglésies més impressionants i famoses de Malta, només comparable amb la co-catedral de La Valetta, és la gran cúpola de Mosta. Oficialment la Basilica de Santa Maria (Santwarju Bażilika ta' Santa Marija), però popularment coneguda com Mosta Rotunda (Ir-Rotunda tal-Mosta).

Fou construida entre 1833 i 1860 segons un diseny de Giorgio Grognet de Vassé, clarament inspirat en el Panteó de Roma. Curiosament, Grognet no tenia cap formació formal d'arquitectura, però així i tot aquesta basílica comptà amb la tercera cúpola més gran del món, en el seu moment. És l'església més gran de Malta.

Una altra curiositat més dramàtica va succeïr el 9 d'abril de 1942, durant el setge italo-alemany de Malta. Un bombarder de la Luftwaffe llençà una bomba de 500 kg contra l'església. El projectil foradà la cúpola en un lateral, impactà contra una paret, i quedà inert al terra de l'església, sense explotar. En aquell moment hi havia desenes de civils refugiats allà mateix. Ningú va sofrir danys. La bomba fou desactivada pels militars britanics i llençada al mar. Avui en dia es conserva una bomba identica a la sagristia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotunda_of_Mosta

maltagc70.wordpress.com/1779-2/

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One of the most impressive and famous churches in Malta, comparable only to the co-cathedral of Valletta, is the great dome of Mosta. Officially the Basilica of St. Mary (Santwarju Bażilika ta' Santa Marija), but popularly known as the Mosta Rotunda (Ir-Rotunda tal-Mosta).

It was built between 1833 and 1860 to a design by Giorgio Grognet de Vassé, clearly inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. Curiously, Grognet had no formal training in architecture, but even so this basilica had the third largest dome in the world, at its time. It is the largest church in Malta.

Another more dramatic curiosity occurred on 9 April 1942, during the Italo-German siege of Malta. A Luftwaffe bomber dropped a 500 kg bomb on the church. The projectile pierced the dome on one side, hit a wall, and remained inert on the floor of the church, unexploded. At that time there were dozens of civilians taking refuge there. No one was injured. The bomb was deactivated by the British military and thrown into the sea. Today, an identical bomb remains in the sacristy.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotunda_of_Mosta

maltagc70.wordpress.com/1779-2/

Taken in: Malta / Il-Mosta / Il-Qattara (show map)

Taken on: July 28, 2025

Tags:

Malta

aerial view

volar

fly

flight

Mosta

basilica

església

eglise

chiesa

iglesia

church

kirche

dome

rotunda « less

Sets appears in: • Malta 2025 • Fotos aeries / Aerial pictures more » • Esglésies / Churches « less

Groups appears in: • Historical places • Mare Nostrum more » • History is All Around Us • Beautiful Capture • *Flickr en català! • "Exemplary Shots - Flickr's BEST! (Post 1 Award 3)" • BULL'S EYE ( post 1 - throw 3 Darts) SPRING CONTEST - open! • "World Trekker" (Post 7 - Award 3) • Nikon Z6 II "best picture" « less

Camera: Nikon Z 6_2, f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, 70mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon Z 6_2
Lens:	NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S
Aperture:	f/6.3
Exposure Time:	0.001 sec (1/1250)
Focal Length:	70mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Saturation:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw 17.0.1 (Windows)
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