Eremo delle Carceri
Encyclopedia
The Eremo delle Carceri is a small hermitage
in a steep forest gorge at the Monte Subasio
, in Umbria
, in middle Italy, four kilometers above Assisi
, the steps and bows of which arch over a quatrefoil-shaped hole in the smooth pink stone: the so-called "Devil Hole", a grotto
. The word Carceri is from the Latin 'carceres' and means "isolated places" (as well as "prisons").
In the 13th century, Saint Francis of Assisi
returned here during his life to pray and contemplate as did other hermits before him.
When he first came in 1205, the only building here was a tiny 12th-century oratory. Soon, other men followed him to the mountain, finding their own isolated caves nearby in which to pray.
The oratory became known as Santa Maria delle Carceri after the small "prisons" occupied by friars in the area.
The site and the oratory was probably given by the Benedictines to St. Francis in 1215, at the same time they gave him the Porziuncola
in the valley below. Francis dedicated himself to a life of preaching and missions, but throughout his life he would frequently withdraw to the Carceri to pray.
At a stone bridge the oak
still exists, in the branches of which birds were living, whom S.Francis had preached to, as the legend tells.
Around 1400, Saint Bernardino of Siena
built a small friary, which includes a little choir with wood stalls of c.1400 and a simple refectory with the original tables from c.1400. still to be seen. St. Bernardine also built a small church called Santa Maria delle Carceri, today with an altarpiece fresco of the Virgin and Child, which extended the earlier chapel
.
In the centuries that followed, various buildings were added around St. Francis' cave and the original oratory, forming the sizeable complex that exists today.
Today some Franciscan
monks live there and visitors are welcome.
Hermitage (religious retreat)
Although today's meaning is usually a place where a hermit lives in seclusion from the world, hermitage was more commonly used to mean a settlement where a person or a group of people lived religiously, in seclusion.-Western Christian Tradition:...
in a steep forest gorge at the Monte Subasio
Monte Subasio
Mount Subasio is a mountain of the Apennine mountains, in the province of Perugia, Umbria, central Italy. On its slopes are located the ancient towns of Assisi and Spello.The mountain stands about 1290 metres above sea level....
, in Umbria
Umbria
Umbria is a region of modern central Italy. It is one of the smallest Italian regions and the only peninsular region that is landlocked.Its capital is Perugia.Assisi and Norcia are historical towns associated with St. Francis of Assisi, and St...
, in middle Italy, four kilometers above Assisi
Assisi
- Churches :* The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi is a World Heritage Site. The Franciscan monastery, il Sacro Convento, and the lower and upper church of St Francis were begun immediately after his canonization in 1228, and completed in 1253...
, the steps and bows of which arch over a quatrefoil-shaped hole in the smooth pink stone: the so-called "Devil Hole", a grotto
Grotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
. The word Carceri is from the Latin 'carceres' and means "isolated places" (as well as "prisons").
In the 13th century, Saint Francis of Assisi
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
returned here during his life to pray and contemplate as did other hermits before him.
When he first came in 1205, the only building here was a tiny 12th-century oratory. Soon, other men followed him to the mountain, finding their own isolated caves nearby in which to pray.
The oratory became known as Santa Maria delle Carceri after the small "prisons" occupied by friars in the area.
The site and the oratory was probably given by the Benedictines to St. Francis in 1215, at the same time they gave him the Porziuncola
Porziuncola
Porziuncola, also called Portiuncula or Porzioncula, Porciúncula is a small church located within the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the frazione of Santa Maria degli Angeli, situated about from Assisi, Umbria...
in the valley below. Francis dedicated himself to a life of preaching and missions, but throughout his life he would frequently withdraw to the Carceri to pray.
At a stone bridge the oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
still exists, in the branches of which birds were living, whom S.Francis had preached to, as the legend tells.
Around 1400, Saint Bernardino of Siena
Bernardino of Siena
Saint Bernardino of Siena, O.F.M., was an Italian priest, Franciscan missionary, and is a Catholic saint.-Early life:...
built a small friary, which includes a little choir with wood stalls of c.1400 and a simple refectory with the original tables from c.1400. still to be seen. St. Bernardine also built a small church called Santa Maria delle Carceri, today with an altarpiece fresco of the Virgin and Child, which extended the earlier chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
.
In the centuries that followed, various buildings were added around St. Francis' cave and the original oratory, forming the sizeable complex that exists today.
Today some Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
monks live there and visitors are welcome.