St. John's Co-Cathedral Audio Guide
Explore St. John's Co-Cathedral with Stanza's GPS-triggered offline audio guide.
About the Tour
St. John's Co-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic co-cathedral in Valletta, Malta. It was built by the Knights of Malta between 1572 and 1577.
What you will hear
The Fortress Exterior and Astronomical Clock
Establishes the military character of the Order and the Mannerist facade by Girolamo Cassar. Includes the complex astronomical clock as a key functional detail of the exterior.
The Mannerist Facade
Welcome to a building that looks more like a fortress than a church, reflecting the military mindset of the Order of Saint John.
The Nave and Preti's Golden Vault
Introduces the 'Baroque explosion' of the interior. Focuses on Mattia Preti's ceiling frescoes which depict the life of St. John the Baptist.
The Golden Nave
The interior of the cathedral presents a staggering contrast to the plain facade, featuring sixty-five meters of gold-leafed limestone and intricate carvings.
The High Altar and Sanctuary
The spiritual heart of the cathedral. Features the marble group of the Baptism of Christ and the ornate sanctuary area.
The High Altar
The spiritual focal point of the cathedral is decorated with some of the most expensive and rare materials available in the seventeenth century.
The Baptism of Christ
Directly behind the high altar, a white marble sculpture captures the moment Saint John the Baptist baptizes Jesus beneath a golden sunburst.
The Oratory: Caravaggio's Shadows
The highlight of the tour. Houses the largest and only signed work by Caravaggio, 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist', and 'Saint Jerome Writing'.
The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
This massive canvas is Caravaggio's largest painting and the only one he ever signed, marking a turning point in art history.
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