The architect was Antonio Barluzzi. It was built on the ruins of a Byzantine (4th-6th century) church and a 12th century church of the Crusader Kingdom period. The church contains three grottoes belonging to the Crusader church. They were described by Jonas Korte, a publisher from Eldena, as ‘three chapels, with a small altar. They are called tabernacles, and they are said to represent the three huts which Peter desired to build, one for his Master (Jesus) the other two for Moses and Elias (Elijah)’.
