Ruins of the Hermitage of San Francesco in Montegallo

History of the Eremo S. Francesco ruins

The convent dates from the early days of the Franciscan order. Pope Innocent X suppressed it in 1652, and since then it has belonged to the local parish. Over the centuries the place has almost always housed hermits.

The last was Quintino Sicuro, who lived there from 1949 to 1954. He came from Treia, after leaving the Franciscan habit. He obtained permission from the parish priest of S. Maria in Lapide, Don Luigi Ciaffardoni, and settled in the hermitage in 1949. From here he carried out his ministry in the small, isolated villages of the surrounding mountains. Years later he returned to the hermitage to celebrate his first Mass as a priest.

What to see at the Eremo S. Francesco ruins

The well from which the friars drew water still survives. In an inner room, several biblical and spiritual inscriptions remain on the walls. They were written by Quintino Sicuro and bear witness to the rule of life he had set himself. The view over the Fluvione valley is part of the visit.

How to visit the Eremo S. Francesco ruins

The hermitage is reached on foot from Corbara. The trail passes along the Via Crucis built by Don Quintino. From the end of the Via Crucis, divided into stations, a short climb leads to the hermitage.

The complex is dilapidated and partly collapsed, so move with care and avoid unstable sections. Check the weather before setting out.

Where the Eremo S. Francesco ruins are located

The ruins are in the municipality of Montegallo, in the province of Ascoli Piceno. They occupy a knoll overlooking the Fluvione valley, higher up than Corbara.

Around the Eremo S. Francesco ruins

Nearby Corbara is a hamlet clinging to large tufa boulders that tower over it. It is the natural starting point for the climb to the hermitage. Along the trail are the stations of the Via Crucis. Every year many "friends" of Don Quintino walk it as a pilgrimage. Other places of worship are on the page on sanctuaries and hermitages in the Sibillini.