The Price of Passion: Caravaggio & Contreras Unleashed
Delve into the dark and immortal deeds of two famous men who sought redemption in Malta, where passion carries a hefty price and admire top Malta beautiful places.
★★★★★ 5/5
A good visit with an amazing guide. Absolutely recommendable. The explanations were funny and unpublished. I hadn’t read these stories on any website.
- pazgonzlezmiranda
Tour Details
- Ages: 16+
- Starting Location: Upper Barrakka Garden
- Tour Difficulty: Easy
- Photo Friendly: Yes
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Ending Location: Grandmaster's Palace
- What to wear: Suitable clothing for Cathedral Visits/ Holy places of worship
- Guide: Licensed Maltese tour guide (NOT in costume)
- Language: English
Overview
What to do in Malta? Join us in this epic Renaissance journey of two men as we bring together the worlds of art and adventure.
We invite you to join us as we explore the intriguing stories of the Spaniard Alonso De Contreras and the Italian Michelangelo de Caravaggio, two men who came to Malta during the reign of the no-nonsense French Grandmaster Wignacourt to join the Knights of Malta.
Meet Caravaggio, talented but cursed, he lives his bohemian years like a quick breath. A life to discover and a death to understand, poised between mystery, artistic masterpieces and his unforgettable temper.
Learn about Contreras, a man of a thousand lives, who already tastes tragedy at an early age. A manifesto of drama and love, horror and revenge, fact and myth: an extraordinary life summed up in the heart of an adventurer.
As we explore their stories, we will take you on a journey through the streets of Valletta, visiting the places where these two men lived, worked, and misbehaved. From the historic buildings of Valletta to its sacred temple St John’s Co-Cathedral and back to the streets, you will witness artistic masterpieces, hidden messages, and politically incorrect symbols whilst viewing top Malta beautiful places.
Not forgetting women of ill repute, scandals, duels and murder in a world where one life’s is worthless without honour, and quick slip of the tongue can end at the point of a dagger.
We invite you to join us as we explore the intriguing stories of the Spaniard Alonso De Contreras and the Italian Michelangelo de Caravaggio, two men who came to Malta during the reign of the no-nonsense French Grandmaster Wignacourt to join the Knights of Malta.
Meet Caravaggio, talented but cursed, he lives his bohemian years like a quick breath. A life to discover and a death to understand, poised between mystery, artistic masterpieces and his unforgettable temper.
Learn about Contreras, a man of a thousand lives, who already tastes tragedy at an early age. A manifesto of drama and love, horror and revenge, fact and myth: an extraordinary life summed up in the heart of an adventurer.
As we explore their stories, we will take you on a journey through the streets of Valletta, visiting the places where these two men lived, worked, and misbehaved. From the historic buildings of Valletta to its sacred temple St John’s Co-Cathedral and back to the streets, you will witness artistic masterpieces, hidden messages, and politically incorrect symbols whilst viewing top Malta beautiful places.
Not forgetting women of ill repute, scandals, duels and murder in a world where one life’s is worthless without honour, and quick slip of the tongue can end at the point of a dagger.
Tour Highlights
- Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing stories of Caravaggio and Contreras, where art meets adventure in the heart of Valletta.
- What to do in Malta? – Step inside St John’s Co-Cathedral, witness the grandeur of the Knights of St John’s sacred temples, and marvel at Caravaggio’s masterpieces.
- Uncover hidden secret narratives of St John’s Cathedral and Baroque Art, revealing untold stories beyond typical guide books or audio guides.
- Walk in the footsteps of Caravaggio and Contreras, exploring the vibrant 17th-century life of Valletta and the challenges they faced whilst admiring the top Malta beautiful places.
Tour Theme
Redemption and Transformation – Dark vs Light – Struggle for Acceptance – Legacy and Immortality
Location Highlights
- Upper Barrakka Garden / Grand Harbour View
- Auberge de Castille
- De Valette Statue
- Auberge D’Italie
- Merchant Street
- Castellania
- Monte di Pieta
- Banca Giuratale
- Valletta Food Market
- Grandmaster’s Palace
- INSIDE St.John’s Co-Cathedral (Tickets at €15)
Further Information
• Comfortable walking shoes.
• A hat in summer (although the narrow streets will be mostly shaded).
• Warm clothes in winter as Valletta can be chilly.
Professional Maltese Licensed Tour Guide
NB: In this tour your guide is NOT in costume.
Entrance to St. John’s Co-Cathedral not included and paid separately (Tickets at €15)
Participants must be 16 years old or above due to adult content involving sex, adultery, and more.
Our tours typically have a small group size to ensure a personalized experience.
The tour will only be cancelled in case of extreme weather conditions.
Unless there is extreme rainfall, the tour will still happen. If the tour is cancelled, we will notify you beforehand and refund your order. We will always prioritize the safety and comfort of our clients first.
Your journey begins at the very top of this page.
First step is to head to the top of page, and kindly fill in the details of your ideal date, preferred tour and add any extra tidbits that can jazz up your experience.
Then just click on “Send Booking request” and we’ll be in touch with you within 48 hours
Once we’ve established a date and time and sorted all the details, the rest is easy.
The amount is paid on the date of the tour.
Cancellations or change of bookings are only allowed if received via email notification on [email protected] at least 48 hours before the tour commences.
Our tours are designed to be safe and enjoyable for all clients. We prioritise safety above all else and work with experienced guides and tour operators to ensure that all activities are conducted safely.
The tour is on even paved ground. This tour is also wheelchair accessible.
The tour includes around 17 stops.
The route, sights, and topics may vary slightly depending on weather and any building works.
Approximately half an hour of walking is involved.
Yes, all tours must be booked in advance.
The meeting place is 10 minutes away from a public car park and the bus stop is less than 10 minutes’ walk away.
A Public Bathroom available at the meeting place. Another bathroom is available halfway during the tour inside St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Yes, the tour is offered in English.
Although much appreciated, it is solely up to you to decide whether or not to tip your tour guide.
Just email us on [email protected] and we will be glad to help out.
Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in with your guide.
Tour Pricing
Group Size
Price
1 to 2 people
€ 140
3 to 4 people
€180
5 to 10 people
€210
11 to 15 people
€250
16 to 30 people
€280
30 or more people
€320
Have any questions?
Wondering about something? If it's not in sight or a bit fuzzy don't hesitate! Email us at [email protected]
Prefer joining a scheduled tour?
Prefer a shared adventure? Our scheduled tour is your jam. Click 'Book a Scheduled Tour' below to view our scheduled tours calendar and join equally awesome folks.
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On this Medieval Mdina Scheduled Tour discover the secrets of Mdina's elite as they plot their way to the top during a time of civil war, sieges, and invasions. Amidst backstabbing and betrayal, they still find time for infidelity and bed hopping, all while shaping the destiny of Malta. Join your costumed Malta Tour guide on a journey through their little-known but intriguing story.
Uncover the captivating and colourful lives of Valletta's infamous Corsairs. Meet unruly nasty knights, tortured and suppressed slaves as well as devoted prostitutes followed by naughty nuns. Learn about the dark forgotten industry of piracy that once formed the daily bread of most of the island's population and hear the lies that ignited it. Tales of plunder, promiscuity gone wild, and peril await you. These stories of battles on sea, land and in the bedroom are sure to leave you breathless.
Uncover the captivating and colourful lives of Valletta's infamous Corsairs. Meet unruly nasty knights, tortured and suppressed slaves as well as devoted prostitutes followed by naughty nuns. Learn about the dark forgotten industry of piracy that once formed the daily bread of most of the island's population and hear the lies that ignited it. Tales of plunder, promiscuity gone wild, and peril await you. These stories of battles on sea, land and in the bedroom are sure to leave you breathless.
Uncover the captivating and colourful lives of Valletta's infamous Corsairs. Meet unruly nasty knights, tortured and suppressed slaves as well as devoted prostitutes followed by naughty nuns. Learn about the dark forgotten industry of piracy that once formed the daily bread of most of the island's population and hear the lies that ignited it. Tales of plunder, promiscuity gone wild, and peril await you. These stories of battles on sea, land and in the bedroom are sure to leave you breathless.
- Client Testimonials
We’re proud to receive awesome client reviews
This whole experience was fantastic, from the very funny back and forth emails with Giacomo when booking from England before we went (thanks also for the many helpful tips for things to do and see on the Maltese islands, many of which we ended up doing), to the evening itself with the simply brilliant Chris as the Corsair. Extremely educational and delivered with infectious enthusiasm. Puts everything in a much wider context; this isn't the conventional 'pantomime' piracy of eye patches, pieces of eight and parrots, but more about profiteering as a mutually advantageous political discourse to both defend the Grand Harbour and contribute to the coffers of the Knights of St John. As my daughter says below, don't miss it, there's nothing else like it.
- ShotsGeoff
Greatly recommend. Very happy that I found them. The best corsair in the Mediterranean.
Firstly, I am extremely grateful for the time Giacomo and Chris spent with me on trying to understand our needs and desires, working on setting up a nice tour to fit the budget and everyone's needs as we had 7 year old with us as well. Secondly, consideration and patience, also involving our kid (later we found out that Chris is also a teacher) and fitting into our schedule. Lastly, thank you for your personal untraditional point of view and interpretation, it was really refreshing.
- Star929
We were on a cruise and stopped in Malta. I arranged a tour with Chris who was exceptional. He customized our tour according to our time and requests. He was friendly and kind and extremely knowledgeable. We enjoyed our time with him and loved the tour of Malta. I would highly recommend him!
- MMM
I visited Malta with my adult son, who is, usually, not fond of guided tours, so I tried to find something exceptional to get him interested, and - yes! - this corsair tour was absolutely brilliant! We were lucky to have it all for ourselves - as it happen no other guests booked the tour on the same evening. The only disadvantage was the noise - streets of Valletta is overcrowded in the evening, and sometimes our points of interest were surrounded with loud music and noisy people, but in general it was very good anyway. We both highly recommend it!
- Julia
My husband booked this walking tour as part of our wedding anniversary stop over in Valletta. We have stopped in Valletta a couple of times but we learnt so much about places we have walked past previously, on this 2 hour tour with Chris aka Shandru.
We were the only people doing the tour on this rainy evening but the guide still put lots into the tour. We thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Corsairs in Malta and its not a long walk so is suitable for all ages. Think my grandchildren would love some of the stories and being shown around by a real life Corsair (legal pirate).
We were the only people doing the tour on this rainy evening but the guide still put lots into the tour. We thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Corsairs in Malta and its not a long walk so is suitable for all ages. Think my grandchildren would love some of the stories and being shown around by a real life Corsair (legal pirate).
- Jeanette W
This is not your conventional tour! It present a side of Maltese history that - even though very intriguing - hasn't been spoken of enough! Chris, the tour guide, is clearly very passionate about the tour and history. He himself becomes part of the story, with colourful descriptions based on a lot of research. Informative and fun, with details that surprised me (even though I'm a local!)
- Dylan
We highly recommend you add this tour to your Malta activities! Chris is in full Corsair character and does an outstanding job in bringing history to life! He tells interesting stories about fascinating historic characters and does it all with humor so that we really enjoyed listening and laughing! Our evening walk was perfect as the crowds had left and we could really imagine all the stories with beautiful Valletta as the setting. We learned so much about the Maltese and the Knights of Malta! An excellent activity for all ages! Thank you Chris.
- TravelingTanja7
A good visit with an amazing guide. Absolutely recommendable. The explanations were funny and unpublished. I hadn’t read these stories on any website
- pazgonzlezmiranda
We did half day trip to Hagair Qim, Marsaxlokk and Blue Grotto. I enjoyed the trip even I was there 3rd time. ;) Chris Schembri is a good guide and simpatic person, very into Maltese history and devoted to his work. Highly recommended. Btw. I lost your visit card, but I want photo of our group! :D
- Ludwika
I was looking for unique tours in Malta and was so happy to find this company. And they didn't disappoint! I had a fabulous tour with Chris, or rather I should say Xandro the Corsair :) He is a great storyteller, passionate and engaging! The organisation of the tour is well done, providing fascinating facts that I would never have imagined! It gave me a whole new perspective on Valletta and Malta. My only regret is that I didn't have time to do more tours with them. I guess I'll just have to come back soon! Thanks so much!!
- pariswithlove
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