eremo le celle

We drove from Cortona and enjoyed spectacular views. The road itself got quite narrow and rough at times, but once we reached our destination there was a small car park in which we managed to get a space. I can imagine in the high season, parking will be a nightmare.

A quick drive from town, a peaceful, beautiful setting. Worth a quick visit to contemplate the last place Saint Francis lived in.

Take the long walk from Cortona to Le Celle... bring water, pack some snacks, a friend to talk to, or music to listen to, and your camera. You'll find plenty of fun shots along the way.

Great unique atmosphere, magic place!A cozy chapel to visit. The sweet monks will guide you to discover this unbelievable corner.Never crowded, probably the best place in Cortona!

Fantastic place, great overlook, silence and peace.Real San Francesco intimacy.Great, unique experience.

The location of this Franciscan monastery, which was founded in the Thirteenth century, is stunning. Some of the monastic cells seem excavated in the rocks overlooking a steep brook, which is more than murmuring for most of the year. It is approximately 2 Km from Cortona, and one can easily get there by walking along a main road by the woods, exiting the town from the Torreone. The land by the monastery is cultivated by the few remaining monks, with flower beds and vegetables. And you can visit a tiny cell which is supposed to have provided shelter for St Francis himself when he travelled from Assisi. The main church is open to the public, and you can visit the courtyard. You can have picnics in the grounds and absorb the peace and tranquillity of nearby woods.

talk about a hidden treasure in Cortona, we were told of this fascinating spot by one of the locals. Yes it is mentioned on the commercial map of Cortona, only it isn't located, just mentioned. What a peaceful and serene find

For spiritual travelers Le Celle is the place to visit. There are few people there, it is quiet and reflective.As much as I loved Assisi, Le Celle I think is more what St. Francis would have wanted us to see. Nature, contemplative, beautiful.

For quiet contemplation and outstanding beauty I don't think you could go anywhere better. But if you don't want quiet contemplation then you won't last more than about 20 minutes.Like everywhere in Cortona there are steep slopes to go down and more importantly get back up!

It took a couple visits before I was willing to drive down the narrow road that leads to Le Celle, but I'm glad I did. What an inspiring place to visit. You wonder how the heck the ever built this place right into the side of the cliff, but it is beautifully designed and very scerene. The parking is pretty limited, so a small car would be preferable. Ther is not a lot to explore since it is a funstioning facility and ther are plenty of signs to remind you to be quiet. If you walk around and take it in, you can get a feel for what it would have been like to live there. Prepare to climb some stpes as there is a valley in the center of the area that feeds into a stream. It would actually be better to go when it is raining so you can see the waterfall of rain rusjing through and under the bridge. There is no charge to enter, but there is a small store where you can by souveniers or make a donation.

A must when visiting Cortona. The location is very special and to just wander around,sit and meditate it is the perfect location. I got a sense of San Francesco and his thought and life style which is important at this time with our present Pope. I do not want to give details of the area. Just go and experience it. My wife and I walk from town and truly enjoy the experience.

founded by St. Francis of Assisi this monastery is a beautifull hidden gem. You can hear monks parying and being there is just unbelivably peacefull. totally worth paying a visit.

We drove from Cortona to visit Eremo Le Celle, where Saint Francis of Assisi had a room (cell). The grounds are beautiful and quiet. The buildings are historic...one can see the cell Saint Francis occupied. There is a nice path that leads back to the parking lot. Plan no more than an hour for the visit.

One of the most peaceful places on earth. Gorgeous scenery, magnificent views...you can understand why St. Francis chose this place for prayer.

Nice place to take pictures, and only a short drive from Cortona. But really nothing to do there. Scenic, but we ran out of things to do in 15 minutes.