San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi, Norman church in Palermo, Italy
San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi is a Norman church in Palermo with three naves separated by stone pillars supporting a wooden roof and central dome. Small windows set into the dome allow light to filter through the interior space.
The church was founded in 1071 by Robert Guiscard and Roger I during their siege of an Arabic castle. Over time it expanded to include a hospital facility that served patients with leprosy.
The church displays a blend of Norman and Islamic artistic traditions visible in its decorated capitals bearing Arabic inscriptions. This mix reflects Palermo's multicultural past, where different traditions coexisted in the same buildings.
The church sits near Palermo's city center and is surrounded by a garden containing remnants of an ancient castle. The location is easily reached on foot and offers a quiet retreat from the busy streets.
The name itself comes from the leprosy hospital once housed here in the 12th century that cared for afflicted patients. This past medical function is no longer visible but reveals an important chapter in the site's history.
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