San Giovanni degli Eremiti, Norman church in Palermo, Italy
San Giovanni degli Eremiti is a church in Palermo with five red domes arranged on a Latin cross layout and connected to a monastery cloister. The building features solid stone architecture with a garden area planted with Mediterranean vegetation and surrounded by old stone walls.
The building was founded in 1136 under Roger II. on a site that previously held an early Christian monastery and later a mosque during Muslim rule. This succession of religious uses shows the changing powers and religious diversity that shaped Palermo over time.
The name refers to hermit monks who prayed here, and the red domes reflect Arab craftsmanship traditions of the era. The blend of Norman, Arab, and Byzantine details tells the story of different cultures working together in medieval Sicily.
Wear sturdy shoes since the cloister courtyard has uneven stone floors and the gardens contain steps and uneven paths. Morning or late afternoon visits work best, as you'll have softer light for exploring and taking photographs of the spaces.
The interior preserves its original medieval structure with bare stone walls and no decorations or religious objects, giving visitors an unusually plain impression of what a church can be. This simplicity lets you focus on the pure proportions and the strength of the space itself.
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