San Giovanni Al Sepolcro — Attraction in Brindisi

An amazing experience that I highly recommend to all those who love history. The place is a priceless historical jewel enriched with many amazing human stories engraved in every inch of the building. At first I entered and besides appreciating the old building I couldn't understand its meaning. I asked the gentleman from whom I bought the ticket (€3) if he could give me some information. After helping some other tourists he came to me. I thought that maybe he was going to tell me a sentence or two. But this gentleman explained to me all the history from the time it was built in 1743 till the last additions to the ceiling that were recently added. He related such an amazing story with so much passion that I was feeling transported away to the times of the templars who built this place to pray before leaving for Jerusalem. He explained about the columns, their alignment, why one seems to be inclined, the three different layers of frescoes and what they show, how they used to be painted on fresh Mata, the doors, the altar, the engraved signs on the outside walls, the mosaic flooring and everything else. I am so grateful to this gentleman. I thank him as he truly made my visit an...

This church was built at the end of the 11th Century AC by a Norman King who was returning from a Crusade, as Brindisi's harbor was the main departure point to Middle East during the age of the Crusaders (1096-1291). The interior is designed in the shape of a "horse shoe" with eight columns in concentric circle, just like the Cathedral of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. According to nowadays standards the temple is not a tall building, so it's not visible from distance. Actually, all the buildings around are taller. Anyway it well worth visiting, especially for the marble lions supporting the entrance pillars, for the indoor wall paint, partially visible and for the green patio, where the visitors could admire some beautiful orange and lemon trees, as well as ancient tombstones, some of them dating back from Roman era. Visited the place in January and the citrus trees in the patio were full of...

De lo interesante que es, conviene hacer una visita guiada o dejarse enseña por quien la enseña. Esta iglesia fue fundada a finales del S. XI bajo el mandato de Bohemondo, principe normando, para dar gracias por el triunfo de l Cruzada en la que él mismo había participado. Y fue sede de la Orden de los Caballeros Tenplarios hasta su supresión. Por eso tiene esa sensación de lugar único. En el interior encontramos varios elementos decorativos que son símbolos típicos de ellos como el nudo de Salomón ( que representa la unión entre lo humano y lo divino) en una de las columnas, la triple cinta y la cruz patriarcal. Es un templo circular, que reproduce el anastasis del Santo Sepulcro de Jerusalén: servía así de memoria para los que de allí volvían y de anticipación para los que marchaban. Está soportada por 8 bonitas columnas. Existe un punto, marcado además, desde el que se puede obtener una visión total de todo el conjunto circular. En el interior se conservan frescos maravillosos, unos mejora conservados que otros, de los siglos XIII hasta XV. San Juan Bautista-muy muy deteriorado. La deposición de la Cruz, siendo Cristo soportado por José de Arimatea, junto con la Virgen y Nicodemo; con colores muy bellos. Deesis con Cristo entronizado con una palabra del Evangelio de Jn 8,12. San Nicolas Peregrino, de Bari. La Flagelación de Cristo. Varios santos como San Jacobo, un arcángel, una serie de varias imágenes de San Jorge con el dragón. La Virgen con El Niño y Santa Ana...