The Malta Experience and La Sacra Infermeria
Before they were famed for their military exploits, the Knights of St. John were a medical order, set up by Pope Gregory in 603 AD to care for sick and injured pilgrims arriving in the Holy Land. When they opened La Sacra Infermeria (The Holy Infirmary) in Valletta in 1574, it was revolutionary, although its amazing results were partly due to the Knights' predilection for serving food on silver plates—the metal has antibacterial qualities that weren't understood at the time; the knights just found them easier to clean. This building (now a conference center) can be seen on tours booked across the road at The Malta Experience, a multimedia presentation on the history of the islands that is given daily on the hour and concludes with a 30-minute visit to La Sacra Infermeria. The latter is also available to see on self-guided AR tours that can be booked on-site, but having a guide is definitely recommended; this is a rather baffling place to explore alone, and visits benefit exponentially from the added color of someone who knows its story.
