San Francesco di Saverio Hermitage

The San Francesco di Saverio Hermitage, built between the XVI and the XVII centuries, bears the name of Saint Francis of Saverio, a Spanish missionary whose travels took him to Japan, India and Malaysia.

From the middle of the eighteenth century onwards, the first inhabitants of this holy place were hermits dressed in black, followed by the Franciscan Tertiaries, but now it is more or less in ruins.

The remains however still have clear traces of the original architecture and design of the chapel, like the altar with the triangular niche above it where the sunlight from the north comes in through the window, as well as some of the coloured walls. An opening on the southern side of the chapel leads to the sacresty, and, a little further along, to the hermits' resting place.

If you wish to go and visit the Hermitage, practically secluded in the heart of a lush valley, you have to follow a path for about 500 metres through a wood full of chestnut trees and holm oaks, on the road to Monte Perone (Campo nell'Elba), or, to put it short, a very enjoyable and relaxing walk in a holy, almost magical atmosphere.