Saint John's Co-Cathedral
Saint John’s Co-Cathedral stands in Malta behind a plain façade of pale stone, solid and almost fortress-like. Inside, gilded ceilings, coloured marble, carved stone and Baroque ornament transform the austere exterior. Wheelchair access makes the richly decorated interior available to more visitors.
Built around 1573 for the Knights of St John, the cathedral reflects their European origins and ambitions. Nearly four hundred knights rest beneath the marble floor, beneath tombstones marked with skulls, hourglasses, swords and coats of arms. The side chapels reveal a quiet rivalry between the Order’s regional langues, including Aragon, France, Italy, Germany, Castile, León and Portugal.
The oratory holds Caravaggio’s The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, painted in 1608. This signed work carries his name in the painted blood of the martyr. Its darkness and sharp contrasts draw the eye into a scene of violence, sacrifice and sorrow.
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