Rabat (or Ir-Rabat) is a village just outside Mdina, Malta. The name of the village is derived from the Semitic word for 'suburb'. Half of the present-day village core also formed part of the Roman city of Melita, before the latter was resized during the Fatimid occupation. The population of Rabat is 11,462 (Nov 2005). Parts of the film Munich were shot here.

Rabat is home to the famous Catacombs of St. Paul and of St. Agatha. These catacombs were used in Roman times to bury the dead as, according to Roman culture, it was unclean to bury the dead in the city (Mdina and parts of Rabat were built on top of an ancient Roman city). The Catacombs were also where early Christians secretly met and performed Mass until Constantine I made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and therefore stopped persecuting Christians.

The town is a commercial centre today and acts as a market to its large agricultural hinterland. It is also well established on the tourist map due to its archaeological and historical sites: The Roman House (Villa), Catacombs, St. Paul’s Grotto and the fine churches and monasteries.

Rabat flats and Apartment Rentals