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St. John's Co-Cathedral entrance ticket
Duration
1 to 420 minutes
Overview
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St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta is a gem of ornate Baroque art and architecture. The cathedral was built in 1577 by and for the Knights of St. John. It is considered one of the world’s great cathedrals.
The cathedral contains two masterpieces by Caravaggio including "The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist", the patron saint of the Order.
In contrast with the cathedral’s rather plain façade, be prepared to be overwhelmed as you step inside. The cathedral was redecorated in the 17th century in extremely ornate Baroque style by Mattia Preti. Virtually every square inch of the interior is adorned in glittering gold leaf, silver, marble or colour.
A floor of 400 highly decorated in-laid marble tombstones for important knights forms a striking visual display in the nave.
In 1831, Sir Walter Scott called the cathedral a "magnificent church, the most striking interior (he had) ever seen."
Today the cathedral continues to be an important shrine and a sacred place of worship.