Rabat, Administrative center in western-central Malta
Rabat is a town in western Malta situated directly beside the former capital of Mdina. The place is defined by historical structures, underground burial chambers from early times, and buildings that reflect different periods of the island's past.
The settlement grew from Roman times as part of ancient Melita and became an important site under Arab rule between 870 and 1090. Following Arab expulsion and during the Knights of Malta period, the town was reshaped with new fortifications and grand residences.
The underground chambers reveal how different religious communities coexisted in this place for centuries, with carved symbols and stone furnishings still visible from early Christian times. Walking through these spaces, visitors sense the spiritual practices that shaped daily life here.
A former hospital building now houses an important archive, preserving records from over 600 years of history. Visitors can walk through the grounds to explore both underground chambers and structures from different time periods.
A palace from the 1500s overlooks the town and served for centuries as a residence for Malta's highest officials. This structure from the Knights' era remains one of the defining features of the surrounding landscape.
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