Church of Saint John of the Lepers in Palermo

Saint-Jean des Lépreux (San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi in Italian) is perhaps the oldest building in the Arab-Norman style in Palermo. Its foundation is thought to date back to 1071, in the aftermath of the siege of the city, by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger of Hauteville. But it is not known on what date it was completed.
Originally there was a nearby Arab castle, called Yahia, of which some traces can be found in the garden.
Its name comes from the existence, from the 12th century onward, of a hospital that took in lepers.
The structure evokes the first churches built by the Normans in the territory of Messina from the 1060s onward.

Architecture and description

Church of Saint-Jean des Lépreux

Greatly altered in the 17th century, the church was renovated in the 1920s to restore its original appearance: a bare ashlar facade without decorations after the removal of the volutes, the central bell tower was dismantled, the interior stuccoes and the pointed cross arches of the side naves were removed. The altar was also restored and the floor lowered to its original level.
The bell tower with its small dome and the entrance were also rebuilt.

The interior is divided into three naves whose arches are supported by massive pillars. The use of these is unusual for Norman churches.
Near the crossing, the central sanctuary with the altar is topped by a small red dome resting on eight small suspended arches.
The apses are preceded by pretty corner columns, some of which have retained Arabic inscriptions, made by Islamic workers.
In the center of the main nave, there is an interesting painted wooden crucifix from the 15th century.

Photo gallery

Where Saint-Jean des Lépreux is located

Information

Sources and external sites

• Wikipedia page
• Tourist portals: turismo.comune.palermo.it, www.palermoviva.it

Churches of Palermo