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A place of peace, beauty and tranquility

The church is carved in the tufa rock, which already existed before 1459, as described in a story by Pontano of that time, while the cells of the convent were built later in 1587. In 1500, the center of the church is facing the statue of St. Nicholas, from which the name Hermitage of St. Nicholas. In the church we entered the chapel on the left of the crucifix in a shrine, a tombstone from 1671 is at the center.
The noblewoman Beatrice Quadra wanted to make a retreat for nuns, who though they could not long resist, for the stiffness of the climate, with the poor places, subsequently they found a new, more comfortable seat at the Aragonese Castle.
Then famous hermits lived in the hermitage, as Father George Bavaro, who died in the odor of sanctity, and Joseph of Argouth (1704-1778), former commander of the military garrison stationed on the island, one day while chasing two soldiers Epomeo rebels, he was confronted by these and was about to be killed. At that moment he vowed to St. Nicholas to become a hermit. Miraculously saved after he retired Epomeo with 12 fellow soldiers become brothers like him, to fulfill the vow made to St. Nicholas, to the winds threw the gun to retire to a hermit's life. Joseph of provident Argouth purchase of land near the church and commissioned many works, including those for the high altar. D'Argout died on Epomeo Mount on August 17, 1778.
The first works to expand the original chapel with the excavation of tuff stone for the construction of cells and other environments for the community began in 1754 by the Cenobites. Then, more recently, the old convent was converted into a restaurant and inn, making it impossible to read now, for the transformations, the original subdivision. It was possible among other things, with little expense, to spend the night in spartan cells to peak on a breathtaking, to be enjoyed at the first light of dawn. Currently the property is closed to visitors and accesible only from the outside.

Come Raggiungere l'Eremo di San Nicola

The church of S. Nicola, is situated on the summit of Mount Epomeo, the highest part of the Island, 789 meters above the sea level. The summit is accessible only on foot through a mountain trail, fairly easy. If you are driving you have to leave the parking lot at the end of the driveway, following the signs to the summit of Mount Epomeo, from there through a half-mile trail for about 15 minutes of walking, we reach the summit and the lookout. If you do not have car, the bus will accompany you at the center of the village of Fontana, through an alley from which you can follow the signs to Mount Epomeo, a distance of 2 km, about 35 minutes on foot. Other trails lead to the summit of Mount Epomeo, a stone from the water and the other by the Falange, but are suitable for hikers and mountain lovers.a.

Foto di: © www.ischia.it