Assumption of Our Lady (Tal-Virtu’) and the Archbishop’s Seminary, Rabat

Assumption of Our Lady (Tal-Virtu’) and the Archbishop’s Seminary, Rabat

The Church dedicated to the Assumption, but known as il-Madonna tal-Virtu was built in the early 15th century over a crypt in an area where there was also evidence of Punic and Roman graves.

The original church had a rectangular plan with an apse and a bell tower in typical medieval architecture. The report of Inquisitor Dusina’s(1575) mentions one altar with a painting covered by a yellow drape. The Augustinians took charge of the church in the mid-17th century.

As a result of the 1793 earthquake the church suffered extensive damage. It was subsequently rebuilt in a circular form (as we see it today). A statute of Christ the Redeemer was erected on top of the dome in the early 20th century but this proved to be ill-fated since – the weight of the statue coupled with the 1923 earthquake again caused significant damage to the church.

The church fell into disrepair and was abandoned and vandalised for several decades until in 1988 it was finally restored.

From there the road continues to the Archbishop’s Seminary, tal-Virtu’, Rabat, which is the end-point of the first day of this Melitae Mariana pilgrimage.