The most beautiful religious buildings Central

An impressive dome topped by a nipple, built without the aid of scaffolding, it is the pride of Maltese builders. And it's true that the Rotunda, Europe's fourth largest dome, is a pure marvel. The church, which can accommodate up to 12,000 people, took 27 years to build. Work was completed in 1871.

The people of Mosta contributed financially and physically to the building of the structure, some even offering up to 70% of their annual salary. The church was modelled on the Pantheon in Rome by architect Giorgio Grognet de Vassé, a Maltese nobleman whose bust can be seen inside. At the entrance, the olive-wood statue of Our Lady is the one carried around the village on procession days. Several of the murals are by Giuseppe Cali; the altar is by the Maltese Pasquale Buhagiar.

The gigantic dome is white, with sky-blue and gold rhombuses. Its diameter is almost 39 m. To avoid the need for scaffolding, a sort of stone spiral has been constructed, tapering in size and easily visible from the outside. The base of the spiral is 9 m wide. During the Second World War, at 4.40pm on April 9, 1942, a bomb fell on the church during mass, but failed to detonate. The episode became known as the "Mosta miracle", and a life-size reproduction of the bomb is still on display in the sacristy at the back of the church, on the left. For the festa on August 15, the feast of Our Lady of the Assumption and the national holiday, the interior of the church is covered in red hangings and the exterior is decorated with multicolored bulbs and statues.

The Carmelite community was established in Rabat in the 15th^century and moved to Mdina in the 1660s. The priory's cloister, designed by Lorenzo Gafà, is superb. Don't miss the baroque refectory and the reconstructed antique kitchen. Visit the church, also in Baroque style, and note its elliptical plan. It was in this church that the insurrection against the French occupiers began in 1800, just as the latter were about to seize the church's possessions and place them in Napoleon's coffers... As for the Carmelites, today they can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

It was built on the site of an old medieval chapel, damaged by the earthquake of 1693 which, from Sicily, destroyed part of the town of Mdina. The new chapel was built in 1694 according to the plans of the architect Lorenzo Gafà. This church is dedicated to Saint Agatha, one of the three patron saints of the city of Mdina, together with Saint Paul and Saint Publius. This saint is said to have found refuge on the island of Malta, while fleeing the persecutions of the Roman emperor Decius.

Located in the main square of Rabat, it is a baroque style church, designed by Francesco Buonamici and completed by Lorenzo Gafà in 1683. It was built in honour of Paul of Tarsus, who is said to have converted Malta's first Christians. From now on it is no longer included in the visit to the Wignancourt Museum and you will have to take advantage of the mass hours to notice in particular its altarpiece, by Stefano Erardi. But it is in July that she decorates herself for the holidays. The inner walls are then covered with red damask, braided with gold, the crystal chandeliers come out of their covers and all the golden statuettes of the saints are displayed on the altar. An exceptional opportunity to admire this sumptuous and seductive ensemble.

The Benedictine nuns of Mdina are first mentioned in 1450, on the site of a medieval women's hospital, enlarged and completely restored in 1625. The Order is governed by very strict rules: nuns are never allowed to leave the convent, even after death. They are buried in the crypt, and the only male visitors allowed are the doctor and the plasterer-painter when work is being carried out. The public can visit the adjoining chapel, but the nuns don't open it every day, so you'll have to take your chances.

Nearly twenty nuns currently live here in total isolation, devoting their days to prayer and tending the garden. Needless to say, tourists can't visit either.

Probably the most interesting of the city's churches. Remodeled in 1638 by the architect Tomasso Dingli, it features many Baroque elements. It boasts some fine pieces of religious art, including paintings by Giuseppe Cali, sculptures by Melchiorre Gafà and Karlu Darmanin, and an altar by Portuguese sculptor Emmanuel Merreira. Some of these statues are taken out into the streets for the Good Friday procession.

The very recent Sainte-Thérèse church, with its flying saucer appearance, has a modernity designed to impress, despite a slightly artisanal feel. Although originally dedicated to Saint Alphonsus, the local population continues to call it Sainte-Thérèse due to the presence of an urn bearing her effigy.

The old building was damaged by a lightning strike in 1959. The new one is now one of the island's most popular places of worship.