Hermitage of San Cassiano, Religious hermitage in Lumignano di Longare, Italy

The Hermitage of San Cassiano is a 17th-century building set into the eastern rock face of Monte della Croce in Lumignano, a hamlet of Longare. It was built around the remains of a 6th–7th-century church of San Cassiano, whose lower walls were exposed in a 1994 excavation; the ancient church used a natural cave as its apse, now the room on the north side.

The hermitage incorporates the remains of a 6th–7th century church of San Cassiano, built against a rock cavity that served as its apse; the lower walls emerged in a 1994 excavation. The present building dates to the 17th century. From that century until the late 18th it belonged to the Paduan Dottori family, then passed to Nicolò Leoni, who sold it in 1825 to the Da Schio family, its owners today.

Local tradition holds that in the 12th century Adelaide of Burgundy, empress of the Franks and queen of Italy, took refuge here after escaping imprisonment imposed by Berengar. It is said that, while she lived, the grateful queen sent gifts to the penitents who withdrew to pray at the site.

Access is not always open, so calling ahead to confirm availability is recommended before visiting. Sturdy shoes are advisable since the path to the clifside sanctuary involves some steep and uneven terrain.

The 1994 excavation uncovered thirteen tombs cut into the rock, of which ten remain visible; their shapes vary between rectangular, trapezoidal, elliptical and anthropomorphic, the last with a hollow for the head. A single inscribed slab was found in situ, while other inscriptions are carved directly into the rock face.