| Rabat | |
| Native Name: | Ir-Rabat |
| Native Name Lang: | mt |
| Settlement Type: | Local council |
| Motto: | Ġawhra Prezzjuża Magħrufa Tleqq (Original Latin: Notabilis gemma fulget) (English: A precious gem known as radiant.) |
| Coordinates: | 35.8817°N 14.3989°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Malta |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Northern Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Western District |
| Parts Type: | Borders |
| Parts Style: | para |
| P1: | Attard, Dingli, Mdina, Mġarr, Mosta, Mtarfa, Siġġiewi, Żebbuġ |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Sandro Craus |
| Leader Party: | PL |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 26.64 |
| Population Total: | 11,936 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Rabti (m), Rabtija (f), Rabtin (pl) |
| Timezone1: | CET |
| Utc Offset1: | +1 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | RBT |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | 356 |
| Iso Code: | MT-46 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Patron saint |
| Blank Info Sec1: | Saint Paul
|
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Day of festa |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | First Sunday of July; March 19; Second Sunday of June; First Sunday of September; Second Sunday of October; Nearest Sunday to November 11; December 8 |
| Website: | Official website |
| Government Type: | Mayor–council government |
| Governing Body: | Rabat Local Council |
Rabat (Maltese: Ir-Rabat, in Maltese pronounced as /ɪrˈrɐbɐt/) is a town in the Northern Region of Malta, with a population of 11,497 as of March 2014.[1] It adjoins the ancient capital city of Mdina, and a north-western area formed part of the Roman city of Melite until its medieval retrenchment.
The Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See to the Republic of Malta is seated in this village. The Local Council of Rabat is also the administrator of Baħrija. Parts of the films Munich and Black Eagle were shot in Rabat. In December 1999, Mtarfa was split from Rabat to form a separate Local Council by Act XXI, an amendment to the Local Council Act of 1993 (Act XV).
Rabat is a Semitic word which can mean "fortified town" or "suburb".[2] The Arabic term Ribat refers to a small fortification to host military volunteers.[3]
Rabat is home to the Catacombs of St. Paul and of St. Agatha.[4] These catacombs were used in Roman times to bury the dead as, according to Roman culture, it was unhygienic to bury the dead in the city.[5] Mdina and parts of Rabat were built on top of the ancient Roman city of Melite. The Maltese catacombs were never meant to be hiding places during persecutions or as living quarters.[6]
The Catacombs of St. Paul are now administered by Heritage Malta.[7] Part of St. Paul's Catacombs, the part accessible from the Parish tradition and as recorded in the Bible, St. Paul stayed here for three months when he was shipwrecked on the island in AD 60.[8]
In the Catacombs of St Agatha's, there are over 500 graves of several types, the majority being children's graves. There are sections for pagans and Jews, as well as for Christians. There are also unique frescoes.[9] Another feature of the Maltese catacombs is the agape table, two of which, carved out of bedrock, were found in the Catacombs of St. Paul.[10]
Rabat has its own football club called Rabat Ajax F.C. Rabat won the Maltese Premier League twice (1984–85 Maltese Premier League and 1985–86 Maltese Premier League), and the Maltese Cup once in 1986.
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Malta.
Tarquinia, Italy