Eremo di Montevergine

The Montevergine Hermitage, the earliest settlement in the area, dating back to the early 1700s, occupies a panoramic position overlooking San Francesco beach, which is about 100 metres from the entrance beside the church of San Francesco. This unique setting is just two kilometres from the centre of Forio, in an exclusive location always considered a residential area, with villas and prestigious hotels served by restaurants, bars and supermarkets.It an ideal location for those who want to enjoy a holiday steeped in the special atmosphere of Ischia, with its nature, relaxation and fun, while enjoying absolute peace and quiet. Nearby are the Zaro woods, with“la Colombaia”, the villa that once belonged to the director Luchino Visconti and is now home to a cultural foundation dedicated to film and entertainment. The woods also have a place of worship dedicated to Our Lady of Zaro, while a few steps from the Hermitage you can visit the famous “Gardens of Mortella”, considered one of the ten most beautiful gardens in Europe. Also at 2 km you can enjoy a day of relaxation at the Negombo Thermal Park or a little further away at the Poseidon Gardens Thermal Park

The Hermitage can be accessed from the square in front of the church of San Francesco di Paola, through a wrought iron gate. A long covered patio with an ancient well, lined by beautiful wide arches, opens out to an irregular-shaped uncovered patio leading to the main staircase, with classic motifs in Piperno stone. From the main staircase, a large, bright entrance leads to the main section of the hermitage, the Petrea apartment, formerly the residence of an early 20th century English peeress. It is positioned at the centre of the apartments like the pistil of a flower surrounded by the petals. The exposure of the hermitage to the west allows the beautiful sunsets to be seen from nearly all the apartments, as well as the outline of Ventotene Island on the horizon. Right after sunset, when the atmospheric conditions are right, you can see “the vanishing sunfrolic, amuse itself and emit a gentle, bewitching, fleeting ray of light: THE GREEN FLASH”.