St Johns Co-Cathedral

St. John’s Co-Cathedral is a Baroque masterpiece located in the heart of Valletta, Malta’s capital city. Built in the 16th century by the Knights of St. John, it features a richly decorated interior with gilded walls and Caravaggio’s famous painting, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Situated near Republic Street, it is one of Malta’s most iconic and historically significant landmarks.

It is a richly embellished place of worship established in 1578. Over the past centuries, each grand master and many knights dedicated high-valued artistic gifts and made massive contributions to adorn the church with some best works of art.

Grand Master Jean de la Cassière ordered the construction of St John's Co-Cathedral as the monastic church of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St John. It was constructed by the architect Glormu Cassar from 1573 to 1578. Remarkably, the Bishop of Malta, who was seated in St. Paul’s Cathedral in Mdina in 1820, adjudged that the glory & privilege of the main church of the bishop should be shared between the cathedrals. That is when the St. John’s Cathedral became apparent as St John’s Co-Cathedral. However, the Foundation either stumbles or confines the number of visitors entering the Co-Cathedral at a time to prevent congestion that can cause harm to the structure