St Anne's Church, Roman Catholic church in Muslim Quarter of Old City, Jerusalem
St Anne's Church is a Catholic church in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, featuring Romanesque architecture with cross-vaulted ceilings and smooth natural stone walls. The structure measures approximately 19.5 m (64 ft) wide and 34 m (112 ft) long and sits near the Lions' Gate.
The church was built between 1131 and 1138 under the direction of Queen Melisende and ranks among the older structures from the Crusader period. The site remained under Islamic control for centuries before eventually returning to Christian worship.
The church is named after Mary's mother and still shows traces of its role as a hospital for pilgrims. Visitors notice the simple, quiet design of the interior that reflects this medical past.
The site can be reached on foot through the narrow streets of the Old City and lies near several other religious sites, making it a natural stop on a larger walking tour. The area tends to be less crowded in early morning or late afternoon.
An underground grotto beneath the church marks where tradition places the childhood home of Mary, mother of Jesus. Many visitors overlook this hidden chamber, which is reached down narrow stairs below the main structure.
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