Church of St. John of the Hermits

Via dei Benedettini, 20, 90134 Palermo PA, Italy

Besides the Norman palace, visitors can visit St. John of the Hermits (San Giovanni degli Eremiti in Italian), a medieval church with a clever blend of Islamic and Norman styles.

Church of St. John of the Hermits is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sicily. Since 2015, it has been part of an Arab-Norman itinerary that includes Palermo, Cefalù and Monreale. The church is located in the gardens of the Royal Palace and near the ancient river Kemonia on the western edge of the Albergheria district. Church of St. John of the Hermits represents one of the most remarkable medieval buildings in Palermo.

At first the church was a pagan building, then, in 581, it was converted into a Gregorian monastery, dedicated to Saint Hermes and entrusted to the Benedictine monks of Montevergini. Following that, the church was repaired with a structure that could become a mosque. During the Norman rule, in 1132, the building was converted into a Catholic church, during the reign of Roger II of Sicily and dedicated to Saint John of the Hermits.

The church was modified several times in the following centuries. Around 1880, the famous architect Giuseppe Patricolo attempted to restore the church to its original medieval appearance. Nearby is a 12th-century Late Norman convent. The church has an opulent garden, which is the best preserved part of the ancient abbey. It has remarkable small double columns decorated with botanical motifs, supporting the arches. There is also an ancient Arabic well in the garden.

The church is a Christian building despite its brilliant red dome, clearly showing the existence of Arab influences in Sicily at the time of reconstruction in the 12th century. The church shows balance. harmony of different volumes, skillful use of simple geometric shapes and elegant combinations of powerful blocks. The church, Latin (in the shape of a T) has a strict geometric shape characterized by five small hemispherical domes. The church has a nave, two main entrances and three side aisles. The cubic structure surrounded by a dome is a distinctive feature present twice in the single nave and the rest in the conservatory. The combination of two different geometries reminiscent of Earth and Heaven is symbolic both in Islamic and Byzantine Fatimid cultures. Church of St. John of the Hemits is a must-see when visiting Palermo.

Business hours:

Monday - Saturday: 09:00 - 18:30

Sundays and public holidays: 09:00 - 13:00

Last entry 30 minutes before closing

Address:

Via dei Benedettini 20, Palermo

Phone: +39 091 651 5019

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Church of St. John of the Hermits

Besides the Norman palace, visitors can visit St. John of the Hermits (San Giovanni degli Eremiti in Italian), a medieval church with a clever blend of Islamic and Norman styles.

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