St. John's Co-Cathedral
Valletta, Malta
A sixteenth-century temple of the Order of Malta built by architect Girolamo Cassar between 1573 and 1578. The austere Mannerist facade conceals a Baroque interior covered with gilding and carvings from soft Maltese limestone. The temple's floor is made of over 400 marble tomb slabs beneath which prominent knights of the order rest. In the oratory, there is a large painting, The Beheading of St. John the Baptist, painted by Caravaggio in 1608. It is the artist's only surviving work bearing his autograph.
- Visit time: 1 h 30 min
What to look for
- Caravaggio's masterpiece The Beheading of St. John the Baptist in the cathedral's oratory
- Marble floor composed of 400 inlaid tomb slabs of knights
- Eight richly decorated chapels dedicated to the linguistic formations of the order
Before you go
- Best time: In the morning at 9:00 AM right after the gates open
- Crowds: Very long queues at ticket offices between 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM
- Note: No entry in high heels or with exposed shoulders
Good to know
- Caravaggio signed his largest painting with his own blood flowing from the neck of St. John the Baptist.
Sources: stjohnscocathedral.com, en.wikipedia.org
How long does it take to visit St. John's Co-Cathedral?
Plan about 1 h 30 min.
Nearby
- San Paolo Naufrago (St. Lucia's Stairs) — 60 m
- Church of St Paul's Shipwreck — 110 m
- Caffè Cordina — 110 m
- Strait Street and Yard 32 Gin Bar — 130 m
- National Museum of Archaeology — 140 m
- Cafe Society — 140 m
Things to do in Valletta — all places with visit times
Valletta — 1 day · Valletta — 2 days · Valletta — 3 days
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