St. John’s Cathedral with a Local Guide – Ticket Excluded.｜Malta

Discover Malta's most treasured monument and one of Europe's finest Baroque masterpieces on this expertly guided tour of St. John's Co-Cathedral. Skip the line and step inside to find yourself surrounded by an explosion of gilded stone carvings, richly painted ceilings, magnificent marble tombstones, and priceless works of art.

Originally built between 1573 and 1577 as the Conventual Church of the Knights of St. John, it was designed by the Maltese architect Girolamo Cassar before being transformed in the 17th century into the magnificent Baroque masterpiece we admire today.

Your licensed guide will bring to life the remarkable story of the Knights Hospitaller, whose wealth, military power, and devotion shaped both the cathedral and the history of Malta. As you explore the richly decorated nave, discover how the celebrated artist Mattia Preti covered the vaulted ceiling and walls with dramatic scenes from the life of St. John the Baptist, using extraordinary artistic techniques to create breathtaking optical illusions.

The tour also reveals the fascinating marble floor, composed of over 400 intricately inlaid tombstones marking the resting places of the Knights of St. John. Each monument tells a story through colorful marble, heraldic symbols, and allegorical imagery, creating one of the most remarkable funerary floors in Europe.

A highlight of your visit is the Oratory, home to Caravaggio's masterpiece "The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist"—the largest painting the artist ever created and the only work he signed. Admire his moving painting "Saint Jerome Writing," while learning about Caravaggio's dramatic life in Malta and the circumstances that led to these extraordinary masterpieces.

Throughout the tour, your guide will explain the symbolism, history, and artistic treasures hidden throughout the cathedral, helping you appreciate why St. John's Co-Cathedral is considered Malta's most important museum and an absolute must-see for every visitor to Valletta.