The Hermitage of Isolated Places

Assisi is quite close to Spello, where we are staying. We can get there easily by bicycle, along the Via degli Ulivi; or by train, it’s the next station north, but then a shuttle up to Assisi historic center is advised as it is a steep 3 mile climb. Today we opted for the latter as we planned to hike to the Eremo delle Carceri (Hermitage of Isolated Places), which is another 3 mile hike in the forest behind Assisi, on gravel and much, much steeper. Hermits have been coming to the steep mountain gorge on Mount Subasio for centuries. Francis would take a break from preaching and his missionary work to come up to this mountain forest to contemplate and pray in a cave. Centuries later, a hermitage complex (featured blip) has been built up over the grotto and ‘stone bed” where Francis lived (extra). Following in the footsteps of St. Francis, a number of hermits have come to this mountain gorge to live and pray in caves, but currently, there are no cave dwellers, just a few Franciscan monks living in the hermitage. There are numerous places to pray and meditate in the surrounding wooded area and gorge and people were scattered about sitting or walking in silence praying or meditating. Many collected wildflower bouquets and made twig crosses to leave as an offering to St. Francis.