Sicily: Palermo – Chiesa de San Giognovani Eremite

One more church from Palermo, and it’s another UNESCO World Heritage site – Chiesa de San Giognovani Erimiti – this one has a long and layered history. It originates in the 6th century as a christian monastery dedicated to Saint Ermete (Hermes) under Pope Gregory the Great. During Arab rule in the 9-10th centuries, the site was converted into a mosque. In the 12th century, it was rebuilt by Roger II as a Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint John the Apostle. Finally in the 19th century there was a restoration that removed 16th-century additions, uncovering the original Arab-Norman structure. The church’s fusion of cultures—Christian, Islamic, and Byzantine – is a snapshot Sicily’s unique medieval heritage. Its red domes, set against Palermo’s skyline, are an often considered a hallmark of the city.