Top of the World
The presence of the monks-knights would be evidenced by what for centuries has been commonly called, by the locals, the "Cave of the Templars" or the Cave of Selvascura. From the present Sanctuary of the Crucifix one enters through a dark and narrow corridor: it is a natural cave of almost rectangular shape, with completely frescoed walls. Thirteen panels and a niche can be distinguished, dating from around the fifteenth century but in late fourteenth-century taste, unfortunately much deteriorated by the dripping water. Starting from the right wall for those who enter, we recognize: the Madonna and Child, Mary Magdalene, the Annunciation, the Crucifixion, a character on a ladder pierced by an arrow, a scene of animals, Christ blessing with four saints (from left: St. Leonard, St. James, St. Francis and Pope Leo IX), a boar suckling her cubs, some prisoners intent on freeing themselves from their chains (curious!), San Leonardo, the Madonna della Palma, and San Tommaso skeptic.In the niche, finally, you can see San Giorgio e il drago, San Nicola di Bari and Sant'Antonio Abate, while on the ceiling is a more recent painting depicting San Michele (19th century). Continuing from the ancient hermitage we come to a circular chapel, built specifically to house the Crucifix by Pietrosanti.
