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Church · Brindisi, Apúlia
San Giovanni al Sepolcro
11th-century round church in the centre of Brindisi, inspired by the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, with a carved portal and medieval frescoes.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About San Giovanni al Sepolcro
San Giovanni al Sepolcro is a round-plan church built in the 11th century in the historic centre of Brindisi. Its form imitates the rotunda of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and the church is linked to the time of the Crusades, when Brindisi was one of the embarkation ports for pilgrims and knights bound for the Holy Land. Tradition associates it with the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the Templars.
On the outside it is a stone cylinder with a Romanesque portal decorated with sculptures of animals and figures, supported on columns. Inside, a ring of columns supports the roof, and fragments of medieval frescoes with images of saints survive on the walls.
On the floor, vitrified areas reveal remains of Roman constructions on which the church was built. The interior is small and the visit is brief, but the church is one of the few medieval buildings in Brindisi to have come down to us almost intact.
It is a few minutes' walk from the Piazza Duomo and the Corso Garibaldi.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
15 to 30 minutes.
Best time
Combine this visit with the cathedral and the museum on the same walking route. The church has limited opening hours; check before you go.
How to get there
It is in the historic centre, on Via San Giovanni al Sepolcro, about a 5-minute walk from the Piazza Duomo and 15 minutes from the train station.
Tip
Notice the portal: the carved animals and figures are the finest example of Romanesque sculpture that survives in the city.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about San Giovanni al Sepolcro
Why is the church of San Giovanni al Sepolcro round?
The form imitates the rotunda of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The church dates from the 11th century, when Brindisi was an embarkation port for the Terra Santa.
What is seen inside San Giovanni al Sepolcro?
A circle of columns, remains of medieval frescoes with figures of saints and, under glass panels in the floor, remains of Roman structures.
Is San Giovanni al Sepolcro far from the cathedral?
No. It's about a 5-minute walk from the cathedral square, in the historic center.