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The church of S. Giovanni degli Eremiti was built at the behest of Roger II between 1132 and 1148 on more ancient pre-existences of different ages. Over the centuries this place has always maintained a religious destination: indeed, during the Muslim rule of the island, there stood an Arab mosque, built on the remains of a Benedictine monastery. The buildings of the Norman period (church and monastery), were built according to typically Islamic architectural models, as architects and workers were of Muslim origin. The church of S. Giovanni degli Eremiti, which has undergone various changes and transformations over the centuries, presents a simple parallelepiped-shaped structure. The interior, with a simple geometric shape, is bare, very severe and unadorned by any decoration. The complex of S. Giovanni degli Eremiti is part of the nine monuments included in the Arab-Norman Palermo route that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site

From a historical point of view, the building is an example of the Muslim architectural tradition in the Norman period. According to a tradition supported by archaeological evidence, the primitive building dates back to the 6th century. A.D., and represented the first settlement of the Benedictine monks in Sicily.

The current building, despite its typically Arab architectural shape, has always been destined to Catholic worship. The site, however, certainly hosted, before the Norman reconquest, a mosque, which in turn had taken the place of a previous place of Christian worship.

The presence of the Benedictine monks in the monastery "Sancti Ermiti" (hence the current name of the church) has had a decisive influence in the early Middle Ages, not only on the religious level, but also on the cultural one.

- Organize a direct visit to the site
- Conduct a research activity on the origins of the Benedictine Order
- Deepen the study of Arab-Norman culture