Eremo di San Marco

I've spent the last few days in Ascoli Piceno, resting up and preparing for my next farm. While here, I've explored the old town center, the famous Piazza del Poppalo, as well as Piazza Roma, Piazza Arringo, and more. A few days ago, Jes, the architects, and I, hiked up to Eremo di San Marco. I was told we were going to a grotto (a cave). The hike was steep, but through a lush chestnut forest. Sections of the trail looked like they may have been cobblestone long ago. Expecting to see a hole in the rock, I was blown away when we came to a stone stairway spanning a deep gully and leading up the face of a cliff.

I soon found out Eremo di San Marco is not just any cave. This looked more like a scene from 'Lord of the Rings'. The large groto in the face of a cliff had been made into a 13th century Cisterian monastery! The stairway leads up into the two story building, now a ruin. A cliff ledge below has specatcular panoramic views of Ascoli Piecno.

More on Ascoli later. I'm heading up to Cagli today!

Photos are: Eremo di San Marco, the stone stairway, view from the cliff, and the interior of the groto church.