Eremo di Sant'Egidio: A Mountain Sanctuary

The Eremo di Sant'Egidio, perched at 1025 meters above sea level on Monte Matese, is a captivating destination steeped in history and spirituality. Located near Bojano in the province of Campobasso, this ancient hermitage is believed to have been built between the 9th and 10th centuries. Originally a small cenobium, it served as a place of refuge for travelers crossing the mountainous terrain. Until 1976, the only access to the hermitage was via winding mountain paths. Today, it is accessible by car along the provincial road to Civita, followed by a scenic 500-meter walk. The church is annexed to what is now a refuge, but was once a small monastery. Restorations in 1995 revealed an apse, confirming the building's early medieval origins. The hermitage is part of the parish of Saints Erasmus and Martin in Bojano. Popular tradition in Bojano holds that St. Egidio lived on this site, nourished by the milk of a doe. The statue of St. Egidio inside the church depicts the hermit with this animal. The people of Bojano celebrate the feast of St. Egidio every year on September 1st, with many walking to the hermitage.