The visit to the ancient hermitage of Pienza is probably one of the most fascinating
and special experiences not included in the usual tourism routes in the area: a secret
door giving access to Etruscan and Roman history, a place where you can immerse
yourself in a mythical, distant, and unsettling atmosphere.
"The unique grassy
area covered in ancient ivy and surrounded by ageing oaks, can be reached through a
narrow lane with steep steps."
The Hermitage has stood there for many years,
rejected, forgotten and neglected, closed even to the visits of those who knew of its
secret existence.
When the Moricciani family became owners of the property, in
1993, they decided to save and restore it, so that it could be enjoyed by all those
who love these mysterious places. They gathered all the information they could find
about this amazing rocky structure dug out of the sandstone bank underneath the
church of Santa Catarina, in order to make this available to visitors. 
   
It
has stood there for centuries, a place chosen by the pious to live a solitary life
devoted to penitence and prayer, but the idea that it might be an ancient Etruscan
tomb used again and again over the centuries as a hermitage makes this visit unique
and exciting.The shaft of light slanting through the narrow windows of the cell,
emphasises the outlines and folds of the garments, creating an atmosphere of an
oriental altar.The whole ambience, with its play of light and shadow and its mysterious
angles, impresses and fascinates the visitor, who finds himself in a place deeply
permeated with the sacred and mysterious.
The Hermitage and adjoining
ancient tuff quarry (5 minute walk from Pienza) can be visited by appointment (send a
e-mail to romitorio@cretaiole.it).