- Address: Triq San Gwann, Il-Belt Valletta, Malta
- Phone: +356 2122 0536.
- Official website: www.cityofvalletta.org
- Discovery: 1577
- Architect: Girolamo Cassar
A magnificent sight of sunny Valletta became the Cathedral of St. John. Outwardly it resembles an ordinary medieval fortress, but inside it is a magnificent palace. Chapels, tiled mosaic, extraordinary painting on the walls and stained-glass windows - this is simply impossible to admire.
A bit of history
St. John's Cathedral in Valletta was built in honor of St. John the Baptist by Maltese knights. In 1572 the master of the knightly order Jean de la Cassiere commissioned the erection of this landmark to the military architect - Glorm Kassar. Initially, the cathedral was a small church, but after the Great Siege of Malta it was reconstructed. Most of the changes took place inside the cathedral. Add a magnificent Baroque interior was the idea of the Italian artist Mattia Preti, who was engaged in its design.
Sights of the Cathedral
Each corner of St. John's Cathedral in Valletta is a masterpiece of historical art. Getting inside, you immediately pay attention to the floor - a mosaic that acts as a marble tombstone of the Knights of the Order of Malta. It was here, under the floor was the burial of the great heroes of the country. Interesting stone carvings and painted vaulted ceiling will tell you about the life of John the Baptist. In the cathedral there are eight wonderful chapels dedicated to the eight patrons of the knightly order.
Great respect for the visitors is evoked by the painting by Michelangelo da Caravaggio, "The Beheading of John the Baptist", 1608. The rebel artist painted this picture in a very short time, after he was sentenced to death for murder in a drunken brawl. This masterpiece is the last signed work of the creator. In the cathedral, another, earlier picture of the same artist, "Hieronymus III", found a place for himself.
Near the main entrance to the Cathedral of St. John there is a monument to the famous master Marcantonio Dzondadari, who was the nephew of the great Pope Alexander VІІ.
Good to know!
St. John's Cathedral in Valletta runs from Monday to Friday from 9.30 to 16.30. On Saturday it is open to visitors until 12.00. On Sunday, only members of the congregation can visit the cathedral.
Since the appearance and maintenance of the decoration of the cathedral costs, in 2000 it was decided to make an entrance for visitors paid. At the moment, you can buy a ticket at these prices:
Children under 12 years old admission free.
You can reach St. John's Cathedral in Valletta by public transport , for example, by shuttle bus. The nearest stop to the point of interest is Main Bus Terminus.
| | | |
| | | |
