San Giovanni degli Eremiti
A 12th-century monastery church beside the Norman Palace, with five red domes peeking out among palm and orange trees, and a serene cloister garden.
The Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti was built around 1136 by Roger II on the site of a former mosque. It is part of the Arab-Norman World Heritage Site. The building has a simple form, and its most striking feature is its five red domes, which, together with the surrounding palms, lemon trees and bougainvillea, make one of the most exotic scenes in Palermo. The interior is spacious and bare, but the highlight is the small cloister garden, where paired stone columns frame the plants. Admission is a few euros, and it is about a 5-minute walk from the Norman Palace, so you can visit both.
Opening hours
Approx. 9:00–19:00 (confirm on site)
Nearby sights
- Palazzo dei Normanni & Cappella Palatina
- Palermo Historic Centre
- Ballarò Market
- Chiesa del Gesù (Casa Professa)
- Mercato del Capo
- Quattro Canti
- Fontana Pretoria
- La Martorana & San Cataldo