Podbit · Jon Mallia Podcast
The new underground museum's roof is a vaulted concrete structure, with each rib weighing approximately 150 tonnes and cast off-site. The design echoes the Cathedral's own vaulted nave above, creating visual continuity across 450 years of architecture.
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At 1:28:35 · chapter starts 1:25:44
The most ambitious project in the Foundation's history is also the most hidden: a new underground museum being built directly beneath St John's Co-Cathedral. [1] — Tonio Mallia "Beneath St John's Co-Cathedral, a major new underground museum is under construction, funded by the Foundation without government money. Th…" 1:24:18 The project began in 2018 with an archaeological excavation that made significant finds. Construction was then paused by COVID before restarting; the main construction phase was completed in 18 months, which Tonio describes as remarkable given the complexity. The architectural centrepiece is a vaulted ceiling that echoes the Cathedral nave above, with each pre-cast concrete rib weighing approximately 150 tonnes. The design deliberately rhymes with the historic Cathedral structure — continuity across four and a half centuries of architecture. Mechanical, electrical, and engineering fit-out continues, and completion is expected around 2028. Critically, the entire project is funded by the Foundation itself — no government money is involved — a fact Tonio is quietly proud of.
The Cathedral museum's new underground construction phase was completed in just 18 months, which Tonio Mallia described as no small feat.
The Foundation has built immersive experiences that allow visitors to encounter Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John at close range and true scale. Ultraviolet and multispectral imaging reveals layers of the painting invisible to the naked eye. The Cathedral is building experiences, not just visits.
The major new underground museum and visitor experience beneath St John's Co-Cathedral is expected to be completed and open around 2028.
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