St John's Co-Cathedral

Maltas most impressive church is St John’s Co-Cathedral.

It was built by the Order of St John over a period of 5 years betweeen 1572 and 1577. It was commissioned by Jean de la Cassiere, Grand Master of the Order of Saint John.

Initially the Church’s interior was modestly decorated, it was updated during the 17 Century in the baroque style, and is considered one of the finest examples of high Baroque architecture in Europe. The interior is now fabulously ornate in comparison with its plain facade.

Each of the Langues, the national chapters of the Order of St John, had their own chapel either side of the nave. The Langues competed with each other to create the  most lavish and ornate chapel.

400 richly inlaid marble tombstones cover the floor holding the knights and officers of the Order. Each is adorned with the coat of arms of its aristocratic occupant, along with symbols  reminding onlookers of the inevitability of death

One of the Cathedrals treasures is a huge painting of John the Baptist by Caravaggio.

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