San Giovanni Evangelista, Benedictine abbey in Parma, Italy
San Giovanni Evangelista is an abbey church in Parma with three naves, cross vaults, and a Latin cross layout. A dome crowns the transept intersection, supported by marble columns that frame the interior with Renaissance and Baroque elements.
The Benedictine monastery was founded in 980 by Bishop Sigefredo II on the site of an earlier oratory dedicated to Saint Columban. Over centuries, the complex grew into a significant religious center.
The dome, painted by Correggio in 1520, depicts the Vision of Saint John through a complex arrangement of figures ascending toward the central light.
The church is open daily with set hours in the morning and afternoon. Plan your visit around service times, as these differ on weekdays and Sundays.
The former monastic pharmacy room now functions as a museum displaying historical pharmaceutical instruments and medicinal preparations created by the monks. This collection shows the medical knowledge that the Benedictines developed over centuries.
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