The Maltese Church in Vienna

The Maltese Church in Vienna is located on one of the most popular and visited by tourists street Kertnerstrasse. However, few of Vienna’s rushing shoppers visit this small church across from the expensive Lobmeyer glass shop. Austrians themselves, talking about this church, joke about their love of sweets. Malteser, meaning "Maltese" sounds like the name of chocolate "Maltesers".

The Maltese Church of St. John the Baptist was founded in the XV century. It was originally a small church with a Gothic nave. Minor changes in the architecture of the church were carried out until the XIX century. In 1806, a new facade was built, and a tower was added to the temple itself. In 1857, stained glass windows were inserted into the windows of the church, which have survived to this day. The interior of the church is modest, against its background stands a baroque organ, a ceiling bas-relief and an altar of 1730. In the temple lies Jean Parisot de La Valette, a famous Maltese who defended the island from the Turks. The capital of the island, La Valletta, is named after him.