Church of San Giovanni in Campo

The Church of San Giovanni in Campo, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is one of the 16 Romanesque churches built on the Island of Elba between the 11th and 12th centuries and certainly represents the largest of the four main Pievi: San Giovanni della Ferraja (completely destroyed in the 16th century), San Lorenzo di Marciana, and San Michele di Capoliveri.

The church, built according to the medieval tradition outside inhabited centers, is located along the road leading to Monte Perone, within the municipality of Campo nell'Elba (about 3 kilometers from Sant'Ilario), and is one of the few religious buildings from that period that still remains in good condition.

Its features reflect the simplicity and sobriety typical of Romanesque churches. Once, a beautiful wooden truss structure served as the roof, and the walls are still clearly visible, composed of rows of perfectly squared granite parallelepipeds (the local stone was obtained from nearby quarries). On the facade, the main access portal is topped with a small Greek cross-shaped window and a sail bell tower, integrated with the rest of the building, which is the only intact example remaining on the island.

The interior consists of a single rectangular nave that ends with a semi-circular apse, both in full Romanesque style. On the south side, there are still the ruins of what was probably a hermitage attached to the church's walls.

The structure is perfectly oriented east-west so that the rising sun enters to illuminate the interior: this position follows a religious principle from the Old Testament, according to which the Messiah would come from the East in the form of a light beam to illuminate the people immersed in darkness.

On the outside, surrounded by the remains of imposing defensive walls, the church is completely immersed in greenery. It is the ideal spot for a short break or a picnic under the shade of majestic chestnut trees. This area is also a great starting point for a hike or a walk along the beautiful nearby trails.

Infoelba recommends: Near the Pieve of San Giovanni, you can find the Romitorio di San Francesco di Saverio and the Torre di San Giovanni.