{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox church | name = Sarria Church | full_name = Church of the Immaculate Conception | other_name = | native_name = Knisja tal-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni (Ta' Sarria) | native_name_lang = | image = Malta - Floriana - Triq Sarria - Sarria Church 04 ies.jpg | image_size = 230px | imagelink = | alt = | landscape = | caption =
| pushpin_map = Malta | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_mapsize = | relief = | map_caption = | coordinates = {{coord|35|53|31.0|N|14|30|13.1|E|display=inline,title}} | coordinates display = | location = Floriana | country = Malta
| denomination = Roman Catholic | previous_denomination = | churchmanship = | website = <!-- {{URL| example.com}} -->
| former_name = | founded = <!-- {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} - but see note below --> | founder = Martin Sarria Navarra | dedication = | dedicated = | consecrated = | events = | status = Active | functional_status = Church | heritage_designation = | designated = | architect = Mattia Preti<br>Lorenzo Gafà | architectural_type = Rotunda | style = | years_built = | groundbreaking = | completed = | construction_cost = | closed = | demolished =
| capacity = | length = <!-- {{convert| }} --> | width = <!-- {{convert| }} --> | height = <!-- {{convert| }} --> | materials =
| parish = | deanery = | archdeaconry = | archdiocese = Malta | metropolis = | diocese = | province = | district = | division =
| archbishop = | bishop = | dean = | succentor = | rector = Lino Spiteri | vice-rector = | vicar = | priest = | pastor = | abbot = | elder =
| embedded = }} The '''Church of the Immaculate Conception''' known also as '''Sarria Church''' is a Roman Catholic Rotunda church in Floriana, Malta.
==History== The original chapel was built in 1585 with funds provided by the Knight Fra Martin Sarria Navarra.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarria Church |url=http://www.florianalocalcouncil.com/2017/01/09/sarria-church/ |work=Floriana Local Council |date=9 January 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005195734/http://www.florianalocalcouncil.com/2017/01/09/sarria-church/ |archivedate=5 October 2018}}</ref> Following the devastation that the plague of 1675–76 brought on the country, Grand Master Nicolas Cotoner built in its place another church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception as a sign of thanksgiving.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Said |first1=Frans H. |title=Sarria church, Floriana |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/Sarria-church-Floriana.388217 |work=Times of Malta |date=8 October 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316211847/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/Sarria-church-Floriana.388217 |archivedate=16 March 2020}}</ref> The church was designed by prominent painter Mattia Preti. It is vital to note that this was the only church designed by Preti. It was built under the direction of architect Lorenzo Gafà.
The Sarria Church served as a temporary parish church for Floriana from 1942 to 1944, after the St Publius Parish Church was damaged by aerial bombardment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Storja tal-Parroċċa tagħna|url=http://www.florianaparish.org/storja.htm|website=florianaparish.org|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418200853/http://florianaparish.org/storja.htm|archivedate=18 April 2016|language=Maltese}}</ref>
==Interior== The most precious possession of this church are the seven large canvases that surround the interior, painted by Mattia Preti. The altarpiece, also by Preti, depicts the Immaculate Conception with angels sheltering their swords after defeating the plague of 1675–76.<ref>{{cite web |title=Floriana |url=http://www.maltacultureguide.com/index.php?page=article&article_id=51 |website=Malta Culture Guide |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715231432/http://www.maltacultureguide.com/index.php?page=article&article_id=51 |archivedate=15 July 2015}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal box|Catholicism|History|Malta}} *Culture of Malta *History of Malta *List of Churches in Malta *Religion in Malta
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commonscatinline}}
Category:Round churches Category:Floriana Category:1585 establishments in Europe Category:17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Malta Category:16th-century establishments in Malta Category:Plague churches