St John's Co-Cathedral

 Its uniqueness lies partly in the "surprising" contrast of how the space opens into an interior almost entirely covered with decorations, carvings, and gilded surfaces; and partly in the chapel system and culture of remembrance reflecting the European network of the Order of Knights. A highlight of the visitor experience is the monumental vault cycle depicting the life of St John, painted by Mattia Preti, as well as the cathedral's outstanding collection of artefacts: here you can find two of Caravaggio's major works from his Maltese period, including The Beheading of St John the Baptist in the oratory, which art history regards as one of the pinnacles of Western painting. 

From a sustainability perspective, the cathedral's operations combine heritage conservation with resource efficiency: ongoing restoration and conservation programmes and museum developments are in place at the site, while a recent large-scale modernisation introduced museum-quality LED lighting, which, according to the provided data, significantly reduces energy consumption by over 50%, while also improving the visibility of artefacts and enhancing the visitor experience. 

- editorial content -