Eremo delle Carceri, Franciscan monastery on Monte Subasio, Assisi, Italy
The hermitage spreads across a wooded gorge on Monte Subasio, connecting several chapels, caves and narrow stone passages. The complex sits at nearly 800 meters elevation among dense holm oaks and follows the natural shape of the rock.
Francesco arrived when only a small chapel existed, and received the site from the Benedictines in 1215. The complex grew during the 15th century under Bernardino of Siena, who added more buildings.
The name comes from the Italian word for prison, referring to the cells where friars withdrew for solitude. Visitors today can still see how monks live and work in the narrow rock chambers, each cell measuring only a few square meters.
The path from the parking area leads downhill through the forest and takes about ten minutes on foot. The stone paths can become slippery when wet, so sturdy shoes are recommended.
An old holm oak tree along the path bears traces of iron chains that once supported branches said to have bent under the weight of birds. The tree has been cared for over centuries and remains a living sign among the friars of the sermon to the animals.
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