St John’s Co-Cathedral and Museum
Conventual church of the Knights of St John in Valletta, with a Baroque interior, marble tombstones, a museum and Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta was commissioned in 1572 by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière, after the Great Siege of 1565, as the conventual church of the Order of St John. It was designed by the Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar and consecrated in 1578. Its plain, fortress-like façade contrasts with an interior that is considered one of the finest examples of high Baroque in Europe.
For the first century the interior was modestly decorated. In the 1660s Grand Master Raphael Cotoner had it redecorated to rival the churches of Rome, and the Calabrian artist and knight Mattia Preti transformed it, carving the walls in place and painting the vaulted ceiling and the side altars with scenes from the life of St John the Baptist. The floor is paved with around 400 inlaid marble tomb slabs of knights, and the side chapels of the Order’s langues hold altarpieces and the tombs of grand masters.
The Oratory houses Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist, the largest canvas the artist painted. The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation was set up in 2001 to administer and conserve the cathedral and its museum, and the exterior was restored from 2014. The ticket includes an audio guide, and visitors can add a guided tour of the upper levels, the clock mechanism and the bell tower for a supplement.
Highlights
- Baroque interior by Mattia Preti with gilded vaults and painted ceiling
- Floor of around 400 inlaid marble tombstones of the knights
- Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist in the Oratory
- Chapels of the Order’s langues with grand masters’ tombs
- Museum with the cathedral’s treasures; audio guide included
- Operated by
- St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €12Students (with a valid card) and seniors over 60 |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 11 · Children under 12 enter free. |
| Seniors | €12Visitors over 60. |
| Students & apprentices | €12Valid student card required. |
| Guided tour of the upper levels, clock mechanism and bell tower (supplement) | €5Added to the standard admission ticket. |
The ticket includes an audio guide and admission to the cathedral, the Oratory with the Caravaggio paintings and the museum.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| Good to know | The audio guide is included in the ticket; allow about 45 minutes to an hour for the visit. |
