A stay in Malta‘s capital is not complete without visiting St John’s Co-Cathedral Malta. The project was commissioned in 1572 by Grand Master Jean de la Cᴀssiere to serve as the church for the Order of the Knights of St John, and designed by the Maltese architect Gerolamo Cᴀssar. The work was completed by 1577 and dedicated to St John the Baptist, one of the two patron saints of the Order.

The Cathedral is considered to be one of the most important landmarks for those seeking arts and culture in Valletta. In fact, it can be described as the gem of the city, a fascination that draws visitors to Valletta time and time again. With so many churches on the island, you might be wondering why St John’s Co Cathedral Malta stands out from the rest. Apart from its rich Baroque art and relics, the Co Cathedral also holds impressive Baroque frescos, ornate marble floors, three-dimensional statues, carved stone walls and breath-taking vaulted ceilings decorated by the well-known Italian Baroque artist, Mattia Preti.

The Co-Cathedral is also home to one of the most internationally recognised works by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, known as ‘The Beheading of St John the Baptist’ (1608). The painting, located within the Oratory, is the largest work of art by Caravaggio and the only one to bear his signature. Every day of the year, visitors make their way to the cathedral to get a glimpse of the famous artwork, and many will return to the cathedral each time they’re on the island.