Today we are here to talk about the Knights Hospitaller (also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St.
John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Order of St.
John, Knights of Malta, and Chevaliers of Malta), members of one of the oldest religious orders in the world.
Founded in Jerusalem in 1048 to protect the Holy Sepulchre, they have survived wars and changes and today they still provide care for the sick and the outcast, thanks to the numerous hospitals they have founded throughout the world.
In Rome, they officially reside at the Casa dei cavalieri di Rodi in the Rione Monti district, a beautiful castle which was part of the famous Forum of Augustus; the castle which was bought when the Knights Hospitaller lived in exile on the island of Rhodes comprises an old church called the Church of Saint John The Baptist ( and which was originally built on the vestiges of a Roman house) and two astonishing salons richly decorated and with a breathtaking view over the Imperial Forum; the place which is a true treasure trove of Medieval and Renaissance art also features an amazing fresco that many critics have now ascribed to the great Pinturicchio.
La casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi Visits to the Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi must be booked in advance and usually take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays mornings.
For further information please call 060608