Chiesa di San Giovanni alla Guilla - Palermo

In the Norman era, the place of worship was built in 1165.

The church was part of a complex of buildings to provide hospitality and care to pilgrims following the "via Francigena" that went from France to the Holy Land. The term "Guilla" or "Guidda", from Arabic derivation, denotes a river or a spring. In concrete terms, it refers to the toponyms that can be attributed to the part of the city surrounded by the Papireto River.

The structure has a single square nave and the apse of the same shape opens in line with the entrance. Close to the walls are two short chapels with altars and statues. On Good Friday, the two statues are carried on the shoulders by members of the congregation. A large crowd of believers takes part in the procession, which is one of the manifestations of the Holy Week rituals in Palermo.

Willem Vandenameele