Hermitage

Hystory

Mount Subasio has always attracted people who dedicated themselves to meditation, work and prayer.

During the centuries prior to the birth of St. Francis, several religious founded a number of hermitages that were later abandoned. One of these was the hermitage
known as Le Carceri, which immediately drew St. Francis’ attention.
The word "carceri" is synonymous with retreat and isolation.

This is the place in which St. Francis and his brothers sought refuge when they felt the compelling need for
solitude.
The Poor One first came here between 1206 and 1210. He subsequently stayed here for a more extended period between 1210 and 1211 and then continued to visit the
hermitage even after that.

The Interior

The Convent is composed of a set of buildings that overlap each other and is set back in the ravine that is named after the convent. Indeed, the buildings almost look as if
they drop straight down from this overhang. Just past this entrance is a courtyard with two wells, one of which was made by St. Bernard of Siena. The cloister leads to
the Chapel of St. Bernard, which has a small fifteenth-century choir.

Altars

Over the altar is a fifteenth-century fresco depicting St. Francis praying before the Crucifix. A wardrobe in the church contains a piece of wood that the saint used as a
pillow, part of one of St. Clare’s habits and one of St. Francis’ codices.

Refectory

St. Francis’ Grotto

St. Francis’ age-old holm-oak

As legend would have it, this is the tree indicated in the story about St. Francis’ sermon to the birds, who would make their nests here or perch to rest. It seems that the
tree is now diseased.