Baroque in Malta — Stunning Church Interiors

Malta has 365 churches — one for every day of the year. Maklowicz enters St John's Co-Cathedral and sums it up in one word: "Stunning baroque." That's just the beginning.

Why So Much Gold?

The Knights of Malta came from the greatest aristocratic families of Europe. Each "langue" (national division) competed for the most beautiful chapel in the Co-Cathedral. The result: interiors covered in gold, marble and masterpieces of painting.

Churches You Must See

• St John's Co-Cathedral (Valletta) — Caravaggio, gilded vault, 400 knight tombstones
• Mosta Rotunda — the third-largest unsupported dome in the world; a bomb pierced the ceiling in 1942 and didn't explode
• St Paul's Cathedral (Mdina) — a quieter alternative, with frescoes by Mattia Preti
• Ta' Pinu Basilica (Gozo) — pilgrimage site, on a hill overlooking the sea

Festa — When Churches Come Alive

From June to September every village in Malta celebrates its "festa" — the patron saint's feast. Churches open wide, streets are adorned with lights, bands play, and fireworks illuminate the sky. It's the best time to see Maltese baroque in its full splendour.