A True Religious Treasure

If you have followed my previous blogs you know we have visited quite a few churches in our travels.  I must say that this one truly stunned me when we walked inside.  The whole interior looks like it is painted in gold leaf and the intricacy of its panels and arches to its massive vaulted ceiling frescoes truly overwhelms the senses.   

The Knights of St. John were made up of noblemen from the most important families of Europe and their mission was to protect the Catholic faith and Europe from the Ottoman Turks.  After the Great Siege of Malta in 1565 by the Ottoman Turks, the Knights vowed to turn Malta into a fortress that befitted their military Order.  Pride of place in the center of the new fortified city of Valetta was reserved for their Church.  The building was completed in 1577 and dedicated to St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Order.  
Both the exterior and interior were modestly designed and decorated.  However, in the 1660's the Grand Master of the Knights of St. John ordered the redecoration of the interior so as to rival the churches of Rome.  The church's interior was completely transformed into the High Baroque style.  The exterior of the church was partially damaged by aerial bombardment during WW11 but the interior was not seriously impacted.  Restoration of the exterior started in the 1980's but was not completed until 2014.     

Front of St. James Co Cathedral flanked by its two bell towers was designed to look like a fortress reflecting the sober mood of the Knights of St. James after the Great Siege of 1565.
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Standing in sharp contrast to it's exterior facade, the interior is extremely ornate.  Eight arches access the Nave and each arch houses a chapel of one of the langue or tongues of the Knights administrative divisions. 

The main alter and sanctuary

The vaulted ceiling has eight panels depicting the life of John the Baptist.

The whole marble floor is an entire series of individually decorated tombs, housing 400 Knights and Officers of the Order

Looking down from the Balcony gives you a wonderful view of the intricate panels and the Nave

Intricate wall of the chapel of Auvergne leading into the chapel of Aragon 

Looking through the chapel of Germany towards the Sacricity

Side panel of the chapel dedicated to Germany
 
We ended our day in a delightful cafe.  I had a local fish and Rita had rabbit Maltese style.  We washed it all down with a lovely bottle of local wine.

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