San Giovanni Church, Erice, Italy

Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista has existed since 1339, but during the centuries it has gone through many changes and enlargements. It is characterized by a double façade with walls, of a severe light and shade intensity that culminates with an ample and splendid dame. The church was built in a panoramic position of particular beauty, that still allows the admiration of the valley and the coast up to Mount Cofano. Today it is used as an auditorium since it is no longer a place of worship. Inside the church of San Giovanni Battista (Saint John the Baptist) one can admire a sculpture depicting San Giovanni Evangelista- Saint John the Evangelist by Antonino Gagini and a statue of San Giovanni Battista - Saint John the Baptist, a work by Antonello Gagini.

References:

Trapani Tourism

Religious sites in Italy

User Reviews

Luca (14 months ago)
It's not worth it. Very few frescoes and little detail

Paul Malet (2 years ago)
A very beautiful church which was rebuilt after its roof collapsed around twenty years ago. Inside we find very beautiful statues and frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. The church is also very beautiful seen from the outside with its dome. We even had the right to a detailed explanation of the place and the works by the person in charge of the church. In short, it's worth the cost of traveling away from the city center to see it!

Francesco Spina (4 years ago)
Beautiful view of the coast and of Monte Cofano in the distance

Dan M (4 years ago)
Not for the Church but definitely for the amazing Landscape Don't expect anything special with this Church else you'll be disappointed. But the amazing view on Sicily below is absolutely worth the walk and your time, even if you have few of it in Erice. The view on Riserva Naturale Orientata Monte Cofano (Mount Hood) is stunning, if you have a clear weather of course. So I'd recommend, if you can afford to be flexible with your schedule, to choose a day with a clear weather before climbing to Erice.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright mixteri

Historic Site of the week

Bengtskär Lighthouse

Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.

German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.

After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.

San Giovanni Church

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Bengtskär Lighthouse