Hermit of Santa Maria della Stella, Medieval hermitage in Pazzano, Italy.
The Hermit of Santa Maria della Stella is located within a natural cave on Monte Stella, containing Byzantine frescoes and a marble Madonna statue from the 16th century. The site merges natural rock formations with decorated surfaces and religious artworks.
Byzantine monks established this religious site in the 11th century, with Christodulus among the earliest leaders. The location later transformed into a Catholic monastery.
The site holds religious meaning for pilgrims who gather each August 15th to honor the Virgin Mary in a mountain setting. This annual observance ties the place to wider Christian traditions of Marian devotion.
Access to the site follows a path from Pazzano that leads uphill along an old road route to the cave entrance. Climbing the stone steps requires physical effort, so sturdy footwear and steady pace are needed.
The artworks on these walls come from Byzantine times and were preserved inside a mountain cave, far removed from urban centers. These frescoes represent a rare case of religious art that remained in its original, remote setting.
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