This church was built between 1827 and 1865. It was designed by Maltese architect Giorgio Grognet de Vasse. This church was built round a much smaller and simpler church as the town of Mosta grew larger. The people of Mosta, who at the time numbered 3000 inhabitants, built the church themselves and paid for it out of their own pockets. The specialty of this church is, undoubtedly, its dome. It has the third largest unsupported dome in Europe after the Vatican in Rome and St Sophia in Istanbul. This church is dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven and celebrates its feast on the 15th August. This church is known as the Rotunda because of its round shape. All the paintings are the work of Maltese artists. The people of Mosta maintain that in this church there is enough space for 1000 people seated and 10000 people standing. In the sacristy, which is open to the public as well, one can see a replica of a bomb (the original one was thrown in the sea to explode) which fell through the dome without exploding during the second world war. Mosta has grown into one of our larger towns and now has a population of 12,000 people. The Parish Church of Mosta also boasts a very solemn Good Friday procession, when not only one statue is carried through the streets, but seven statues showing various episodes in the passion of Christ.
