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St John's Co-Cathedral

St John's Co-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Valletta (Valletta), the capital of Malta. It was built in the 16th century by the Knights of Malta as the headquarters of the Order of St. John. It received donations and bequests from the knights. Over time, the Bishop of Malta received approval to upgrade St. John's Church to a cathedral, thus enhancing its status. Although the exterior of the cathedral looks simple, once you step inside, you'll find a very different scene.

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As soon as I stepped into the seat, I was immediately struck by the exquisite motifs on the walls. The gilded and carved side walls, as well as the marble-inlaid memorial slabs, all exude a baroque-style luxury atmosphere, which contrasts strongly with the exterior of the cathedral. According to reports, the knights of the Order of St. John come from European aristocrats. Their generous contributions have added endless splendor to the church decoration, and we can find the European aristocrat family emblem in every corner of the cathedral.

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Readers who have seen my trip to Italy may already know that since I visited Florence, my love for zenith paintings has reached a point where I can't help myself. The vaulted space of the nave was created by Mattia Preti (Mattia Preti), an Italian baroque artist and a member of the Knights of St. John, and represents the life of St. John the Baptist, and is spectacular.

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The cathedral houses burial monuments and statues from the 17th to the 18th century, all of which were created by Italy's top late Baroque masters. Each monument is composed of detailed patterns, and skull patterns are particularly common.

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A statue of Caraffa Madonna is enshrined in the cathedral, and a grand parade is held every year to celebrate the Immaculate Conception Day (December 8). At the time of our visit, the nearby area was closed, and we were unable to get close; we were only able to see this sacred statue from afar.

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The most famous piece of art in the cathedral is the masterpiece “The Beheaded Saint John the Baptist” by Italian artist Caravaggio. This oil painting depicts the scene of John the Baptist when he is beheaded, Salomé catches him with a gold plate. This painting was commissioned by the Knights of Malta, and it is also the largest single altar painting ever created by the artist.

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The underground tomb under the cathedral altar is called The Grand Masters' Crypt and was built in the late 16th century during the church construction period. This tomb was built to house the remains of the eleven former Knights Commander (1522-1623). Over the years, the murals in the tomb gradually fell off, causing salt to seep out and change color. The sarcophagus of the Grand Commander experienced pulverization and biological growth due to fluctuations in tide, temperature, and humidity, causing extensive damage.

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How do I get to St John's Co-Cathedral?

Take the 54/31/35/41/48 Malta bus to Valletta station and walk for 7 minutes. (Click here for Google Maps)
💡 Official website:https://www.stjohnscocathedral.com/
💡 Tickets: Adults €15 | Seniors €15 | Under 12 free
💡 Note: Please wear proper clothing and do not wear high heels
💡 Flight ticket order：Use Skyscanner to compare flight prices to Malta and find the best dates and times!