Sights · Our pick in Malta
St John's Co-Cathedral
Caravaggio’s Beheading
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Pedro J Pacheco · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons1 / 2
About St John's Co-Cathedral
St John’s Co-Cathedral on St John’s Street was built for the Knights of St John and is described by Visit Malta as the first complete example of the high Baroque anywhere. The floor is paved with the inlaid marble tombstones of knights, and the oratory holds Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist. It is open Monday to Friday 9.30am–4.30pm and Saturday 9.30am–12.30pm, and closed on Sundays and public holidays except for services (visitmalta.com). Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.
Why it's on our list
- Caravaggio’s Beheading
- Gilded baroque nave
- Knights’ tombstones
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with St John's Co-Cathedral before you go.
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to St John's Co-Cathedral, as the crow flies.
- Rosselli AX Privilege50 m1 min walk
- AX The Saint John50 m1 min walk
- Iniala Harbour House250 m3 min walk
- Domus Zamittello300 m4 min walk
- Ursulino Valletta350 m5 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from St John's Co-Cathedral are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest ferry landing
- Valletta Waterfront (Sicily ferry)Harbour ferries950 m12 min walk
- Sliema ferry (The Strand)Harbour ferries1.6 km19 min walk
Key sights
- Upper Barrakka Gardens300 mWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Fort St Angelo850 mWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Spinola Bay2.5 kmWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum3.2 kmWalk 40 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Malta International Airport5.9 kmCycle 24 minCar or taxi 17 min
- Marsaxlokk6.9 kmCycle 27 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Mdina10 kmCycle 40 minCar or taxi 25 min
- Golden Bay16 kmCar or taxi 36 min
- Ċirkewwa (Gozo ferry)19 kmCar or taxi 44 min