St.John’s Co-Cathedral Valletta - Malta Double Click to continue By Etienne Borg (Grade 11)

St.John’s Co-Cathedral

Valletta - Malta

Double Click to continue

By Etienne Borg (Grade 11)

St.John’s Co-CathedralHistorical Background

The History of St. John is in fact tied to the History of Malta and specifically with that of the Order of St. John. Immediately after the Great Siege of 1565, the Knights realized that they would not be able to resist another Ottoman onslaught unless adequate and modern defenses were constructed to meet it.

These had to be constructed in a strategically superior position than the Birgu-Senglea complex that had miraculously withstood the numerous Ottoman Turkish attacks launched during the siege.



The Knights had no difficulty in identifying such a site on the peninsula flanked by both the Grand Harbour and in part overlooking the old Birgu-Senglea defensive complex. In fact plans to build a fortress-city on that tongue of land (than called “Xaghret Mewwija” or Sciberras Peninsula) had been considered before the Siege of 1565; news of this new planning seems to have reached the Ottoman authorities and may well have been a factor that induced them to launch the 1565 massive campaign to oust the knights from Malta before they would have raised more formidable defenses.



The new city was in fact founded in 1566, only a few months after the end of the siege. Right from the beginning it was conceived as a Renaissance fortress-city, combining the notions of massive defensive works and a well-ordered system of street-planning. Priority was given to Valletta’s fortifications; that is , to the inner line of fortified walls and bastions. But since these were well advanced by 1571, the Order decided to move the seat of government from Birgu to Valletta on 18th march 1571.



At this stage, the first palaces, churches and auberges began to be erected. Pride of place was given to the Order’s new Conventual Church. In fact, it’s plan was to be raised at the very centre of the new city. The Order entrusted the project to Gerolamo Cassar (c.1530-1593) whose original training was as a military engineer. In 1569 he was sent by Grand Master DEL MONTE (1568-1572) to Italy to gain experience in the architectural developments of his day.


The Vault Paintings by Mattia Preti Paintings

Architecture and Art in St.John’s Co-Cathedral


These are some of the masterpieces found in St.JohnMasterpieces

Masterpieces in St.John’s Co-Cathedral


The famous Beheading of St. John and St.JeromePaintings

Works by Caravaggio


Picture GalleryThat was just a

short presentation

about this magnificent

place ! Now its up to you to

come and visit it and re-enact

Malta’s medieval history !!

St.John’s Co-Cathedral Valletta - Malta Double Click to continue By Etienne Borg (Grade 11)

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