Hermitage of San Giorgio

History of the Hermitage of San Giorgio

The earliest records date to the mid-14th century. At that time the Ascoli noblewoman Livia Martelleschi founded a hospital to treat lepers with the sulfur waters that flow beneath the hermitage. The historian Pietro Capponi, in the Memorie Storiche della Chiesa Ascolana, writes instead that the hermitage was built in 1382 by the Comune of Ascoli, with the support of Bishop Pietro III Torricella, for the Spiritual friars who followed Angelo Clareno.

In 1568 it passed to the Friars Minor Observant. With the Napoleonic suppression of 1810 the convent was leased to private owners. In 1816 it was entrusted to the Franciscan friars, who stayed until 1866, when the Royal Government ordered the monastery closed and handed over to the State property office. The complex was sold to private owners in 1912. Until the mid-20th century it was the destination of spring pilgrimages linked to the age-old cult of San Giorgio.

What to see at the Hermitage of San Giorgio

The side reached from the trail has a colonnaded portico with cross vaults. Fragments of frescoes with episodes from the life of Saint Francis remain in the lunettes. Some ground-floor rooms are carved directly into the rock. From the side facing the valley, the nine arches are clearly visible.

Time has badly damaged the structure: the bell tower and the church roof have collapsed, and artworks and capitals have been lost or stolen.

How to visit the Hermitage of San Giorgio

The building is reached by the trail leading to the portico. The complex was declared collabente in 2018, partly because of the difficulty of carrying out an inspection with a view to consolidation and restoration. Before setting out, it is therefore best to check access conditions and not to enter any unsafe parts.

Where the Hermitage of San Giorgio is

The hermitage is within the municipality of Ascoli Piceno, southwest of the center, in the hamlet of Rosara, in the locality of Graniti. It lies at the foot of Monte Rosara. It can be seen clearly from the village of Castel Trosino: the valley of the Castellano stream runs between the two places.

Near the Hermitage of San Giorgio

The hermitage offers a good view of Castel Trosino, which lies on the opposite side of the Castellano valley. To continue the visit in town, more sights are listed on the page about things to do in Ascoli Piceno.