About
A magnificent Baroque cathedral built by the Knights of Malta, featuring Caravaggio's masterpiece 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist' and elaborate marble floor tombstones.
St. John's Co-Cathedral stands on Triq San Ġwann in Valletta, Malta, in the heart of the old walled capital. It is a Baroque cathedral built by the Knights of Malta, and its interior rewards a slow visit.
What to see inside
- Caravaggio's The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, the painting the cathedral is best known for, which hangs within the church.
- Elaborate marble floor tombstones, laid across the nave and chapels, decorated with coats of arms and inscriptions.
- The Baroque interior itself, with its ornate decoration and rich detail.
Planning your visit
The cathedral is known in Maltese as Kon-Katidral ta' San Ġwann, and in Italian as Cattedrale di San Giovanni. It sits within Valletta, so it pairs naturally with a walk through the surrounding streets of the capital, where other historic buildings and the city's fortified character are close at hand. For questions before you go, you can call +356 21 220 536.
Plan for a visit that leaves time to look closely at the floor and the painting, rather than a quick pass through the doors.
