Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Knights of Malta

Today's Piazza Armerina was founded in 1080. In 1161 the city was destroyed by the Normans. It was rebuilt from 1163. The actual city developed in the Middle Ages. Since 1817 the city has been the seat of a bishop. The Commenda was built on the pre-existing church of S. Maria del Soccorso, donated to the Knights Hospitaller (Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem). Subsequently, around 1150, the Military Order of the Knights took possession of the building with the commitment to build a complex to be used as a hospice for pilgrims heading to the Holy Land and as a place of gathering and rest for the Crusader Knights. Later around 1420 it was transformed into the Commandery of the Knights of Malta. With the unification of Italy, the assets of the Commenda became State Property and the premises were divided into lots and sold to the citizens; in the early 1900s, the church was restored. Today the Commenda still retains its fortified medieval forms, with a compact exterior, opened only by two portals with pointed arches and loopholes. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Today's Piazza Armerina was founded in 1080. In 1161 the city was destroyed by the Normans. It was rebuilt from 1163. The actual city developed in the Middle Ages. Since 1817 the city has been the seat of a bishop. The Commenda was built on the pre-existing church of S. Maria del Soccorso, donated to the Knights Hospitaller (Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem). Subsequently, around 1150, the Military Order of the Knights took possession of the building with the commitment to build a complex to be used as a hospice for pilgrims heading to the Holy Land and as a place of gathering and rest for the Crusader Knights. Later around 1420 it was transformed into the Commandery of the Knights of Malta. With the unification of Italy, the assets of the Commenda became State Property and the premises were divided into lots and sold to the citizens; in the early 1900s, the church was restored. Today the Commenda still retains its fortified medieval forms, with a compact exterior, opened only by two portals with pointed arches and loopholes. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

The Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Romans have been here. In 216 BC, during the second Punic war, the Battle of Canne was fought nearby which led to the heavy defeat of the Romans by Hannibal's army. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the area was taken over by the Normans, who built a fortress here. During the time of the Crusades, Barletta became an important gathering point for the armies of knights. The city had its heyday under Frederick II, who in 1228 announced the sixth crusade during the Diet held here. Following the Muslim conquest in the Holy Land, the Archbishops of Nazareth took permanent refuge in Barletta in 1327. - The basilica was erected at the end of the 12th century, probably on a pre-existing building and then rebuilt in the second half of the 13th century, the Angevin period. It was part of a network of churches, hospitals and hostels spread through Barletta. They were all designed to receive numerous crusaders and pilgrims. The church and the adjoining hospitium was administered by the canons and the knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem up to the 15th century when it was taken over by the Knights of Malta, who kept it until the order was suppressed in 1808.

The Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Romans have been here. In 216 BC, during the second Punic war, the Battle of Canne was fought nearby which led to the heavy defeat of the Romans by Hannibal's army. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the area was taken over by the Normans, who built a fortress here. During the time of the Crusades, Barletta became an important gathering point for the armies of knights. The city had its heyday under Frederick II, who in 1228 announced the sixth crusade during the Diet held here. Following the Muslim conquest in the Holy Land, the Archbishops of Nazareth took permanent refuge in Barletta in 1327. - The basilica was erected at the end of the 12th century, probably on a pre-existing building and then rebuilt in the second half of the 13th century, the Angevin period. It was part of a network of churches, hospitals and hostels spread through Barletta. They were all designed to receive numerous crusaders and pilgrims. The church and the adjoining hospitium was administered by the canons and the knights of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem up to the 15th century when it was taken over by the Knights of Malta, who kept it until the order was suppressed in 1808. Seen here the basilica´s three apses.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. There is a hammer. It seems to be a slate hammer, roofers still use today.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. First time I found the Keys of Heaven. These crossed keys often stand for the Holy See. Here maybe somebody named Pierre, Petrus or Peter left them, as Saint Peter holds the keys as the gatekeeper.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. A horseshoe like this one is a common pilgrim´s graffiti (see previous uploads). Here there may be a name. Are there greek letters? GAI(SON) ?

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage routes have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. A horseshoe like this one, combined with a cross, is a common pilgrim´s graffiti (see previous upload). It is believed, that the pilgrims so ensured a special blessing for their horses, mules and donkeys.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Many places aside the old pilgrimage route have medieval graffiti. The sandstone walls around the portal of the old hôpital des pèlerins are covered with carved graffiti. The horseshoes, seen here, are very common pilgrim´s graffiti. It is believed, that the pilgrims so ensured a special blessing for their horses, mules and donkeys.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. Looking into the large room, that once was the "hôpital des pèlerins" and later was used as a hospital ward. The wooden roof structure is from the 13h century. The walls are covered with graffiti. Now the building is a museum.

Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town of Pons, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley, during the 12th century. In 1160 Geoffroy founded the "hôpital des pèlerins", outside the walls of the town, as an older one was too small to host the growing numbers of pilgrims following the "Via Turonensis" on their way to Santiago de Compostella. The Knight Templars led the Hopital in the beginning. After 1312 the Bishop of Saintes took over the responsiblity. After the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of Religion the pilgrimage had come to an end. So since the 16th century the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta) used the buildings as a local hospital, that was closed during the French Revolution. A priory church, destroyed during the Wars of Religion, was once part of the complex. Only the portal still exists, and as it was sheltered under the arch, it is unweathered. From the sign on the door, the pilgrims learn, that the distance from here to Santiago de Compostella is 1183 kms.