Editing Mosta (section)

==General==

=== History ===
Mosta has been inhabited since [[pre-history]]. [[Dolmen|Dolmens]] in the limits of Mosta and cart ruts are primary evidence of this. Each dolmen has two rectangular standing stones and one other similar stone positioned horizontally above the other two.<ref name="morana">{{cite book |last1=Morana |first1=Martin |url=https://sites.google.com/site/kliemustorja/home/titlu/introduzzjoni/dwar-l-awtur/a/b/c/c/d |title=Bejn kliem u storja: glossarju enċiklopediku dwar tradizzjonijiet - toponimi - termini storiċi Maltin |date=September 2011 |publisher=Best Print |isbn=978-99957-0-137-6 |location=[[Malta]] |pages=57–58 |language=mt |oclc=908059040 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005162338/https://sites.google.com/site/kliemustorja/home/titlu/introduzzjoni/dwar-l-awtur/a/b/c/c/d |archive-date=5 October 2016}}</ref>

In the Middle Ages, Mosta was a small hamlet amongst a number of other hamlets, each sparsely populated. These tiny villages were Raħal Calleja, Raħal Ħobla, Raħal Pessa or Pise, Raħal Sir, Raħal Kircipulli, Raħal Brabar and Raħal Dimech. In the 16th century, these hamlets decreased in importance and Mosta took its place as the principal village. The Apostolic Visit of Mgr [[Pietro Dusina]] in 1575 indicated that even the church dedicated to the Assumption that stood in Mosta was so important in the area that it was erroneously called ‘parochial church’. In 1575, there were 580 persons living in Mosta.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zammit|first=Gabrielle|title=Report on the State of Conservation of Ta Bistra Catacombs|url=https://www.academia.edu/402767|language=en}}</ref>

Mosta is, in contemporary times, witnessing the construction of many new houses. New built-up zones with residential houses are found on the outskirts of older Mosta. These new zones are known as: Santa Margerita, Tal-Blata l-Għolja, Iż-Żokrija, Is-Sgħajtar and Ta’ Mlit. This means that the population of Mosta is increasing. Mosta has also become a bustling commercial centre. All these developments have made Mosta a big town by local standards and it is today amongst the largest in the Maltese Islands.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zammit|first=Gabrielle|title=Report on the State of Conservation of Ta Bistra Catacombs|url=https://www.academia.edu/402767|language=en}}</ref>

=== Transportation ===
As Mosta is at the centre of Malta; buses pass through Mosta on the way to [[Buġibba]], [[Burmarrad]], [[St. Paul's Bay]], [[Qawra]], [[Xemxija]], [[Mġarr]], [[Ċirkewwa]] and [[Mellieħa]].

=== Legend ===
The Legend of the Mosta Bride is a popular Maltese folk tale that is closely associated with Cumbo Tower, located in the town of Mosta. The legend tells the story of Marjanna, a young woman who was set to marry her beloved Toni Manduca. However, during the preparations for her wedding, pirates attacked Mosta and captured her. Among the pirates was Haggi Muley, a servant who had once been in love with Marjanna but was rejected.

Haggi, who had joined the pirates, was instrumental in Marjanna’s capture, and she was taken to the harem of Sultan Sidi Ali in Tripoli. Heartbroken, Toni devised a plan to rescue her, eventually locating her and, with the help of the Sultan's daughter Assen, helping Marjanna escape. The two lovers reunited in Malta and were married, overcoming the tragedy that had once separated them.

Cumbo Tower, which was the home of Marjanna’s family, is considered the key location in this legend. The tower was built in the Middle Ages and remains a significant historical site in Mosta. The legend is a beloved part of Mosta’s folklore, and the connection to Cumbo Tower adds to the area’s cultural significance.(L-Għarusa tal-Mosta).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weconnect |url=https://www.weconnect.org.mt/we-arts/travel-and-culture/story-the-mosta-bride}}</ref>

=== Social Groups ===
Mosta has its own scouts and girl guides, two band clubs (Nicolo' Isouard and Santa Marija), and two fireworks factories (Santa Marija and 15 ta' Awwissu). A lot of traffic passes through Constitution Street, one of Mosta's main streets, connecting the south to the north.