The temple of St. Giovanni (Saint John Sepulchre), known also as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is a circular construction built towards the end of the 11th century by the Normans over the pre-existent church. It is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in all Southern Italy. During the 12th century a new portal was opened, which today is the main entrance to the church. It has an architrave made from marble which is supported by two columns which rest on two lions made from marble as well.
This church was hold by the Order of Holy Sepulcher (Templars Knights) and subsequently by the Knights Hospitaller (also known as Knights of Rhodes, Knights of Malta, the Order of St John of Jerusalem).
The interior of the church is in the shape of a 'horse shoe' with eight columns in concentric circle within. This design is in memory of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.The original vaulted roof has been replaced by a new wood roof. On the walls there are fresco paintings from the 12th-15th centuries.
After the restorations necessary to bring the church back to use after it was almost destroyed by earth quakes, it was used as a museum from the years 1850 to 1955. It was a centre of cultural meetings attended by illustrious personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi and the famous Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore.
References:The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.
In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.