A primeira vez que entrei na Catedral estavam a celebrar uma missa, não podia entrar para visitá-la porque nesses horários não está permitido fazê-lo mas sabia que no dia seguinte seria o primeiro monumento da minha lista. É extraordinária, decorada com um estilo barroco, exagera nos dourados e relembra que estamos onde os cavaleiros da Ordem de Malta passaram.
The first time I entered the Cathedral they were celebrating Mass, I could not go to visit it because at this time you are not allowed to do so but I knew the next day it would be the first monument of my list. It is extraordinary, decorated with a baroque style, it exaggerates in the gold decor and it's a reminder that we are where the Knights of Malta passed by.
A entrada custa 6€ e tive o azar de coincidir com várias excursões o que complica o tempo que tens para vê-la e porque as capelas são pequenas não pode entrar tanta gente, mas vale sem dúvida a pena visitá-la.
Ia com particular curiosidade de ver os dois quadros de Caravaggio que estão no Oratório. "A Decapitação de S. João Baptista" foi encomendado pelos Cavaleiros da Ordem de Malta ao pintor italiano e das poucas obras que já vi suas esta foi a que mais impressionou, pelo tema e pelo tamanho. Também no oratório está um retrato de S. Jerónimo do mesmo pintor e que podemos ver em réplica numa das capelas.
Inevitávelmente a capela que mais gostei foi a de Portugal (com Castela e Leão), está dedicada ao apóstolo Santiago e onde estão os sepulcros de dois grão-mestre portugueses: António Manoel de Vilhena e Manuel Pinto da Fonseca.
Visitar esta Catedral é conhecer um pouco da essência de Malta e o porquê de ter uma cultura tão diversificada, apesar da sua austera fachada o seu interior é rico em história.
The entrance fee is 6€ and I had the misfortune to coincide with several excursions which complicates the time you get to see it and because the chapels are small they don't hold many people, but it certainly is worth a visit.
I was going with particular curiosity to see the two paintings by Caravaggio that are at the Oratory. "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist" was commissioned by the Knights of Malta to the Italian painter and of the few works I've seen from him this was the most impressive by topic and by size. Also in the oratory there was a portrait of S. Jerome the same painter, and we can see a replica one one of the chapels.
Inevitably the chapel I most enjoyed was that of Portugal (and Castilla y León), it's dedicated to the Apostle Santiago and it's where graves of two Portuguese Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena and Manuel Pinto da Fonseca are located.
To visit this cathedral is to know a bit of the essence of Malta and why it has such a diverse culture, despite its austere facade the interior is rich in history.
I was going with particular curiosity to see the two paintings by Caravaggio that are at the Oratory. "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist" was commissioned by the Knights of Malta to the Italian painter and of the few works I've seen from him this was the most impressive by topic and by size. Also in the oratory there was a portrait of S. Jerome the same painter, and we can see a replica one one of the chapels.
Inevitably the chapel I most enjoyed was that of Portugal (and Castilla y León), it's dedicated to the Apostle Santiago and it's where graves of two Portuguese Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena and Manuel Pinto da Fonseca are located.
To visit this cathedral is to know a bit of the essence of Malta and why it has such a diverse culture, despite its austere facade the interior is rich in history.
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