Romita di Cesi, a place of peace, solitude and extraordinary beauty.
It was recommended to take a bus for the first 6 km after Spoleto, what I did. The walk would have been through unattractive industrial zones. It was still a long walk to the hermitage. Many times I thought I lost the way – the path was hardly marked. When evening approached, I was walking in wild nature. Heavy rain in the past had washed deep canyons into the stony way. When it started to rain, I was looking out for a possible place to stay overnight, in case I had lost my way.
I considered to sleep under this wall. The yellow Tau sign, which I followed, gave me some confidence.
A selfie in the rain
I did arrive at the Romita and opened the gate without reading the words in Italien first. I was received by 3 wild barking dogs, intending not to let me walk one step further.
Luckily, Katharina was in the garden and welcomed me. With that, the 3 dogs (Romi, Dino and Lea) became my friends.
Originally, I only wanted to stay for one night. Very soon I realized that I did not want to leave this special place. I stayed for three nights.
A powerful, over hundred year old Cedar tree spreads its protective arms over the stone building.
Former cloister
Inner court with a strung if green beans placed there fir drying.
There would be so much to tell about this place, but I will let the pictures speak.
The vibrant blooming sage attracts bees, butterflies and this strange insect with a peak like a hummingbird.
In the old walls, several wild beehives have found their home.
A smell if ripe figs, lavender, Rosmarin, sage fills the air wherever you go.
One of many fruit trees in the vegetable garden
Entrance to the kitchen and dining area. Cosmea flowers in different colors are blooming in abundance.
Morning Glorie above the kitchen door
In the morning, Padre Bernardino wakes the pilgrims up with the soft sound of a kalimba. Then he rings the bells of the little chapel. He starts the morning meditation with a self composed song of a poem by St. Francis. This is a place far beyond religion – powerful and soft at the same
Little chapel renovated first by St. Francis in 1213.
Every corner has character and beauty – many volunteers helped padre Bernardino to restore this place. The former Franciscan monastery was in total ruins when he started to renovate it in 1991.
There is a lot of humor there too
Out of the abundant fruits and vegetables of the garden, Katherina prepares delicious food.
Katharina, Hanna and Michaele. They live at the Romita right now.
80 year old Bernardino with Katharina
St. Francis also stayed in this place and meditated in a cave nearby- a very wild landscape. White rocks patched with vibrant green mosses lead to the cave.
Entrance to the cave
View from the Belvedere (close to the cave) down to San Gemini to the right.
I like how you can be in a chapel St. Francis was in……I totally respect this man . I also like how you could change your itinerary and stay in a place where you felt welcome.
Normally, I feel a strong pull to continue and do not want to stop- but this place was different. It was like in the Zen temple Zuioji- a very strong presence of heart energy, beauty, peace….a place hard to leave….