Located in the heart of Valletta St John’s Cathedral is one of the top spots to add on your list when visiting the Maltese islands. Built by the Knights of St John in the late 16th century, this church is vast in history. Today, we list down the top five facts about St John’s Co-Cathedral.
Why it’s called a Co-Cathedral, not a Cathedral.
As a Co-cathedral, it shares the function of being the bishop’s seat with another cathedral. St John’s Co-Cathedral shares this with St Paul’s Cathedral in the old capital Mdina.
It’s an Art Gallery.
When the Knights built the Co-cathedral as their church, the grandmasters donated one of their many pieces of art for the interior décor. One of the most famous works of art in the church is Caravaggio’s masterpiece, the beheading of Saint John the Baptist. This is the largest canvas by Caravaggio and the only known painting to be signed by the painter himself.
The Interior includes an Optical Illusion.
As soon as you walk in this church, you’ll be captivated by the golden views of ornate decoration. Mattia Preti is responsible for the original décor of the Baroque period, designing the intricately carved walls and painting the vaulted ceiling.
Next to each column and you might notice a few optical illusions added by Preti. A man ahead of his time-the figures appear as three-dimensional statues but made as such using shadows.
The Marble Floor has Hidden Messages.
Even the marble floors of this church are something to marvel at. It includes angels and skeletons being the burial places of the Knights. Each section of the floor has its distinct theme or message about the inevitability of death and the afterlife. Some even have hidden messages about potential “mistresses” and sins of the flesh
A Building of Historic Importance
Besides the gorgeous interior the building itself, it’s listed in the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. This church is a fine example of baroque architecture in Europe. For more information about this church, you can do by booking a tour with us.
You can also take a look at our group and private tours by exploring our profile.