It was January 1235 and brother Pietro Angelerio from Isernia had stopped for a few days in Castel di Sangro. He was looking for a place where he could live as a hermit the full experience of faith and mysticism. He left Castel di Sangro and headed along the plateau, to the point of the forkin the road. the Maiella, then defined by Petrarca "Domus Christi", called him.
And here, in fact, in a cave in which he could only lie down, brother Pietro spent three years immersed in prayer, comforted by angelic appearances.
After this long period of solitary prayer Pietro went to Rome to receive his ordination as priest. Long was the spiritual path of brother Angelerio, first in the history of the church when he became Pope in July 1294, then in December of the same year he left the papal seat to Boniface VIII to retreat to a hermit's life.
In the fourteenth century the monks of the order founded by him wanted to build a monastery near the cave to live and pray there. Thus was created a small stronghold, surrounded by walls on three sides, the fourth side faced towards the valley of the Aventine, the gaze is lost on the green expanses, the stronghold, situated on a rocky spur, is totally unassailable.
Within its solid walls were placed the church, the convent, the gardens, the store rooms, the essential elements of a small and self-sufficient city.
Once passed the entrance doorwayl, you are in front of the small entrance to the church. A single aisles chapel, where the Madonna Dell' Altare is displayed, whose feast day is the 2nd July of each year. On the left you find displayed an oil painted canvas of Celestine V, which is accompanied by another oil painting on the right of St. Francis Xavier.
Today, the part of the former convent has become a comfortable hostel where you can stay. Already in 1807 it was adapted to the needs of the resident family Perticone who lived here in the summer months. In 197 2 the complex was donated to the town of Palena.
It was January 1235 and brother Pietro Angelerio from Isernia had stopped for a few days in Castel di Sangro. He was looking for a place where he could live as a hermit the full experience of faith and mysticism. He left Castel di Sangro and headed along the plateau, to the point of the forkin the road. the Maiella, then defined by Petrarca "Domus Christi", called him.
And here, in fact, in a cave in which he could only lie down, brother Pietro spent three years immersed in prayer, comforted by angelic appearances.
After this long period of solitary prayer Pietro went to Rome to receive his ordination as priest. Long was the spiritual path of brother Angelerio, first in the history of the church when he became Pope in July 1294, then in December of the same year he left the papal seat to Boniface VIII to retreat to a hermit's life.
In the fourteenth century the monks of the order founded by him wanted to build a monastery near the cave to live and pray there. Thus was created a small stronghold, surrounded by walls on three sides, the fourth side faced towards the valley of the Aventine, the gaze is lost on the green expanses, the stronghold, situated on a rocky spur, is totally unassailable.
Within its solid walls were placed the church, the convent, the gardens, the store rooms, the essential elements of a small and self-sufficient city.
Once passed the entrance doorwayl, you are in front of the small entrance to the church. A single aisles chapel, where the Madonna Dell' Altare is displayed, whose feast day is the 2nd July of each year. On the left you find displayed an oil painted canvas of Celestine V, which is accompanied by another oil painting on the right of St. Francis Xavier.
Today, the part of the former convent has become a comfortable hostel where you can stay. Already in 1807 it was adapted to the needs of the resident family Perticone who lived here in the summer months. In 197 2 the complex was donated to the town of Palena.
