The Church of St. Anne is a beautiful 12th century Crusader church, built between 1131 and 1138 over the traditional site of the birthplace of Anne (Hannah), the mother of Mary. It is located in the Muslim Quarter, near the Lion's Gate and is an excellent example of Romanesque architecture.
In 1192, Saladin turned the church into a Muslim theological school, which is commemorated in an inscription above the church's entrance. Eventually abandoned, the church fell into ruin until the Ottomans donated it to France in 1856. It was subsequently restored, but most of what remains today is original.
The church is right next to the Pool of Bethesda, the site where Jesus healed a paralytic. (John 5:1-15) Here you can see ruins of a Roman temple to the god of medicine and remains of a Byzantine church built over the temple.
Saint Anne's acoustics, designed for Gregorian chants, are so perfect that the church is a favorite place for tourists to sing (religious music only).
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