North of Amelia, among the lush woods surrounding the area of Collicello, lies a route that is far more than a simple hiking trail: it is a spiritual journey leading to the discovery of two places deeply connected to Franciscan spirituality — the Franciscan hermitage and the remains of an ancient convent.

In this secluded, almost hidden place, where nature reigns supreme, one can still sense today, like a distant echo, the passage of Saint Francis of Assisi, who according to tradition crossed these lands during his pilgrimages.

The Sacred Hermitage: refuge and memory

The trail, which begins near Strada di Gallisciano, winds into the heart of the forest through shaded paths and panoramic views. Among them stands the so-called Sasso della Morte (Stone of Death), a scenic viewpoint offering a breathtaking panorama stretching across the valley toward the Apennine mountains.

Continuing along the path, visitors reach the Franciscan hermitage, a small chapel hidden among the trees, intimate and silent, built to preserve the memory of Saint Francis’ passage through these lands. During his journey across the Amerino region, tradition holds that the saint found refuge here, spending time in prayer and meditation inside the grotto that can still be seen beside the chapel today.

Local Franciscan tradition is intertwined with research on the Via Amerina, an ancient route of pre-Roman origin restored and expanded during the Roman period, which became one of the main pilgrimage routes of the Middle Ages. Saint Francis’ journey through the territory of Amelia and the Monti Amerini is traditionally associated with this historic road.. The Speco of Collicello is therefore part of a historic network of Franciscan sites, hermitages, and ancient religious settlements, such as the one located near the Speco, founded along the paths travelled by the saint and testifying to the spiritual legacy of his passage through the Amerino region.