Eremo di Calomini

Useful Information

Location:	Località Eremo di Calomini, 5, 55020 Fabbriche di Vergemoli LU, Italy (44.054826, 10.407746)
Open:	All year daily 9-20. Guided tours: 9:30, 11:30, 15. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Cave Church
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Eremo di Calomini, Località Eremo di Calomini, 5, 55020 Fabbriche di Vergemoli LU, Tel: +39-331-145-7698. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

12th-13th century	monastery founded by hermits in the wake of the Augustinian hermit movement.
1361	first written mention of the Calomini Hermitage with an annexed "hermit cell" and a chapel dedicated to Sancta Maria ad Martyres.
16th century	gradual decline.
17th century	great growth and development, both in terms of the building, and in terms of the vitality of the place.
1800	after various difficulties, the presence of the hermits ends, sanctuary entrusted to the local parish priests.
1914	entrusted to the Capuchin friars.
2011	entrusted to another religious community.
2023	Brother Benedetto, a Cistercian hermit monk, is new caretaker.

Description

The Eremo di Calomini (Calomini Hermitage) is a cave church which was built into an overhanging cliff face, high above the valley. About two thirds of the church were built into the cave, but there is no natural cave wall visible inside the cave. All the walls are covered by plaster and artworks. The church was built during the 17th and 18th century in Baroque style.

But the neighbouring room, which is used as sacristy since the 17th century still has the original ceiling of the cave. It contains large sacristy furniture from the 18th century which is very valuable. Another part of the monastery are the medieval caves of the hermits. They are today used for meditation. There are caves which were artificially dug and have vertical walls, a wooden ceiling and medieval furniture. Some are used as monastic cells. And finally there is the chapel of daily prayer. Until recently it was used as accommodation for pilgrims, who got a bed and some food here. This accommodation has now been converted into a chapel.

The monastery was built into a 70-metre overhang, but the natural caves were not very large. Since its earliest use as a hermitage, the caves have been artificially enlarged. Today it is impossible to determine where the natural cave ends and the artificial cave begins.