Eremo di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria, Hermitage church in Rio nell'Elba, Italy.
The Eremo di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria is a stone structure perched at elevation with a gabled roof and simple facade featuring two small windows. Inside, a single nave leads to an altar decorated with dark stone columns sourced from the local area.
Construction took place in 1624, though the walls incorporate stones from a structure that stood here 1500 years earlier. This layering of periods shows how this location has served as a place of worship across many centuries.
The hermitage is named after Saint Catherine of Alexandria and draws visitors along a shaded footpath surrounded by local plants. This secluded place reflects the simple spirituality that people have sought here for centuries.
The site is reached by a marked footpath lined with cypress trees and Mediterranean plants, situated at about 260 meters elevation. Wear sturdy shoes because the route includes steep sections and winds through natural terrain.
The grounds contain the dei Semplici Gardens, dedicated to studying and protecting native plants found across the Tuscan Archipelago. This botanical collection lets visitors see the local plant life from all seven islands in one location.
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