Notabilis gemma fulget, a precious gem that is known as radiant, is Rabat's motto.
Situated outside Mdina's main gate, Rabat has been subjected to the same cultural influence the former capital has. Heritage from all of Malta's former ruling powers is scattered all over the hill the two villages are situated on.
It is, but a small percentage of Malta's population that is familiar with Rabat's treasures. The little knowledge shared with the rest of the island is thanks to its dedicated locals, including author Michael Spiteri.
Now, Pauline Dingli is set to steal the limelight. She has taken on the mammoth task of documenting the village's treasures, legends, culture and folklore in her book Rabat: Discover.
"As a local I felt the need to document and bring out the importance of Rabat's heritage. I felt the book was a must," Ms Dingli explained.
How long did it take to compile the material? "Years," she answers without hesitation.
She decided to publish the book after attending a meeting by historians, one of whom raised the issue of the lack of documentation on the village.
"Someone had to do something about it. I had the material so, I decided to go for it."
The book covers Rabat's prime areas: The area around St Paul's parish church, St Agatha's complex, the Ta' Ġieżu area, the area around Howard Gardens, St Mark's and St Francis' church area, Tal-Virtù and the area around St Dominic Square.
Each location's features are described in a concise and accurate paragraph. The photos speak for themselves.
Rabat: Discover is directed towards both locals and tourists. In the case of the latter, the book is a reliable guide to dedicating a good part of their vacation to Rabat, where each site is accessible on foot. Getting there from other localities had also been thought of. Ms Dingli decided to list which bus routes to take in order to reach the village.
She plans on publishing a sequel. The second volume will include Rabat's limits, such as Baħrija, Mtaħleb and Mtarfa. It will also feature Buskett, which contains a number of castles, caves and cart ruts, Ms Dingli pointed out.
Ms Dingli was pleased to note the embellishment works carried out in Rabat, including the restoration of the Roman Domus. On the other hand, she said there is still much to be done.
"Statistics show that 75 per cent of the tourists that come to Malta visit Mdina, therefore, passing through Rabat. When taking this into consideration, I don't think we're giving enough attention to the village."
Ms Dingli was born in Rabat and has lived there ever since. A mother of two, she decided to further her studies at a later period in life than most would do and obtained a degree in art. Her dissertation is about the coast of the Maltese islands, focusing on the historic salt pan sites and traditional sea salt production.
"I believe in lifetime learning."
Rabat: Discover is available from leading establishments in Rabat. It will also be available from a number of shops in Valletta and sells at €12 (Lm5.15).
kbugeja@timesofmalta.com