20% of visitors are Maltese
Approximately 20% of the Cathedral's visitors are Maltese nationals, a figure Tonio Mallia considered a positive but wanted to grow.
Snapshot · Jon Mallia Podcast
IL-KAVALLIERI KELLHOM EGO KBIR | Tonio Mallia
Explore episode
Jul 6, 2026
Where this was said
Konklużjoni
At 1:39:20 · chapter starts 1:35:42
Tonio describes the cutting-edge visitor experiences being developed around the Cathedral's greatest artwork. [1] — Tonio Mallia "The Foundation has built immersive experiences that allow visitors to encounter Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John at close range and tru…" 1:35:00 Using ultraviolet and multispectral imaging, researchers can see beneath the surface of Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John — identifying layers of paint, changes of composition, and details invisible to the naked eye. The Foundation has created a close-up experience that allows small groups to encounter the painting from a few centimetres away, something impossible in a standard museum setting. Tonio is equally proud of the guided-audio experience throughout the Cathedral, which ensures that even independent visitors receive a coherent narrative. He reflects on visitor numbers — up to 7,000 per day at peak, in groups of 25 — and the 20% Maltese figure, which he wants to improve. The conversation becomes a meditation on what heritage is actually for: who it belongs to, who benefits from it, and how to make a 450-year-old institution feel alive.
7,000 Visitors a Day — and Only 20% Are Maltese
At peak times, up to 7,000 people visit St John's Co-Cathedral in a single day, managed in groups of 25. Yet only 20% of them are Maltese. Tonio Mallia sees this as both an opportunity and a challenge — a national treasure that too many locals take for granted.
7,000 visitors per day at peak
At peak periods, roughly 7,000 people visit St John's Co-Cathedral in a single day, managed in groups of around 25.
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