Once the Ottoman threat waned after the Great Siege of 1565, the Islands entered a 'Golden Age' in which arts and culture flourished. European nobles and the Papacy showered the Order of St John with riches and sent their best artists, architects and military engineers to both help plan and build the new capital, Valletta, and embellish the Islands with cultural works.  

Over the next two centuries, this wealthy patronage brought many of Europe's finest artists and sculptors to the Islands. In turn, the Knights fostered Maltese talent often sponsoring local artists and architects to study in Rome.

The building of numerous churches, some as extensions to small local chapels, others entirely new baroque parish churches and cathedrals, gave plenty of scope to new and established artists. Maltese art and architecture was predominantly Mediterreanean baroque and influenced heavily by Italian style.

• Caravaggio
• Mattia Preti
• National Museum of Fine Arts
• Maltese Architects
• The Knights An Introduction