7 incredible churches and cathedrals to see in Malta

Basking in the middle of the Mediterranean, the sun drenched Maltese archipelago saw interlopers come and go over the millenia; from ancient Phoenician, Roman and Arabic empires to the British, who left in 1964. It was the Knights of St. John who made the most lasting impression though, bringing Catholicism and Baroque architecture to the islands; both of which are overtly visible in the DNA of Maltese culture today. Visit these illustrious churches or during a festa (saints’ day) to see living tradition in action.

Considered to house some of the finest Baroque interiors in Europe, the facade of this massive cathedral makes a grand first impression as you approach from the gates of Valletta. Commissioned by the Knights of St John in 1572 for their new capital city – initially as a convent – the cathedral is a time capsule of medieval catholic opulence; the wealthy knights hospitaller employing the finest painters of their day. Matti Preti worked on the dazzling ceiling scenes, lined with gilded gold (recently refurbished and particularly shiny these days) and of course one the most famous paintings on the island, Caravaggio’s huge masterpiece The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist has been drawing crowds in for centuries. Dress appropriately with shoulders and knees covered, or ask to borrow a shawl on your way in.

Lavish doesn’t begin to describe Gozo’s only cathedral. After the initial wow factor of all the gold leaf and Fleurs de lys embossed red fabrics that deck the walls, look up. The uncanny trompe ‘l’oeil paintings of windows and the sky gives the illusion of a pendentive dome coppola that’s actually a flat roof, adorned with angels under the aperture. This Baroque masterpiece (full name The Matrix Parish Church, Sanctuary, Collegiate and Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven) has been a religious site long before the current building’s inception in 1697; the acropolis-esque hill of the citadel was home to a Roman temple to the god Juno and numerous churches followed before the consecration of the current limestone wonder.

The centrepiece of Mdina’s treasure trove of marvellous architecture, St Paul’s Cathedral, is a grand sight to behold as you turn a corner into Pjazza San Pawl (St. Paul’s Square) and take in the huge bell towers and large central door flanked by two 18th century cannons. There’s been a cathedral on this spot since the 11th century, the walled former capital city of Malta, Mdina, celebrating the apostle St Paul since Byzantine times as he was shipwrecked here. This incarnation dates back to the Knights era, designed by Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafà in 1696. A popular choice for high society weddings, this unmissable cathedral really comes alive during its jubilant, fireworks packed festa each year on 29th June, celebrating the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul.

The small village of Għarb in western Gozo (għarb originates from a semitic word meaning west) is home to a surprisingly opulent and grandiose Baroque church, built around the same time the hamlet was founded in 1679. Its unusual indented front is reminiscent of the waves of the sea nearby, ornate limestone rocks curving in then out again. Three angel-like women decorate the facade: Faith stands above the door, Hope to the right and Charity on the left – and two mighty bell towers deck either side of the building. The famous altarpiece inside The Visitation of Our Lady to St Elizabeth, was donated by legendary Grand Master de Vilhena – who also built Floriana (the suburb of Valletta) and fortified Manoel Island in Gzira.

Just outside Għarb, the basilica often just referred to as Ta’ Pinu juts out over fields on the edge of town, making a big impression from far and wide. The closer you get, the less you’re able to take in its magnitude, with a grand bell tower and six flying buttresses looking like ribs along either side. Known as the church of miracles and packed full of ex-voto notes of thanks from those who have been healed following a visit, Ta’ Pinu was rebuilt in Neo-Romantic style in the 1930s, but there’s been churches on this site since the 1500s. This current building was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1990, who remains popular in the hearts and minds of Gozitans consequently.

Built between 1962 and 1974 in the small hamlet of Manikata, this is the first building designed by renowned local architect Richard England and is considered one of the best examples of Maltese post-war modern architecture on the islands. Completely inspired by Maltese tradition and landscape whilst looking extremely funky – the curved shape of the church is England’s homage to the countryside girna, a traditional corbelled stone hut that is used by farmers as a store or shelter. The browns and ocres used alongside the exposed limestone, mirror the rural landscape that surrounds Manikata, up near Mellieħa. The church also symbolised the new era of Catholic architecture in the 1960s when greater emphasis was placed on the building as a place of community, reflecting local culture and character.

Older than Valletta but similarly fortified and just over the waters of the Grand Harbour, Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa) is one of the Three Cities and was the Knights of St John’s base when they first arrived in the 16th century. The Church of Saint Lawrence was the knight’s main church on arrival in 1530. It was redesigned in the Baroque style in 1681 and is home to another incredible masterpiece – the altar by painter Mattia Preti, who famously worked on St. John’s Co-Cathedral. The festa of St Lawrence takes place here in early August, featuring marching bands, parades of the saint’s statue, traditional food stalls and fireworks – its picturesque quayside setting on the Grand Harbour making it one of the prettiest festas on the island.