The sometimes wild Maremma landscape offers those of us with an adventurous spirit the chance to discover some out-of-the-way beauty spots, uncontaminated Nature and moments for reflection. In fact, hermits in times past chose deserted spots for reflection, prayer and meditation, often choosing ancient sacred sites or natural caves close to purifying streams.

One such place is the River Fiora valley just south of the Tuscany/Lazio border near a place called Ponte San Pietro. This is the setting for the Eremo di Poggio Conte: a tiny chapel and living quarters dug out of the tuff rock, to the side of a high dripping rock above the river that forms a sort of amphitheatre (sometimes used today for concerts). The Civic Museum in nearby Ischia di Castro contains many of the frescos from the hermitage, though some are still to be seen in situ.

The locals will tell you that this practice is far from dead: only a few years ago there was a modern-day hermit here for several years!