Le Carceri

East of Assisi, charmingly situated in a small wood of holm-oaks above a ravine between the bare rock faces of Monte Subasio, is the hermitage of Le Carceri (791m/2,610ft), to which St Francis retired for his devotional exercises. The monastery dates from the 14th century; visitors are also shown the saint's rock-bed.

From the monastery it is an hour and a half's climb to the broad ridge of Monte Subasio (1,290m/4,257ft; panoramic views). The drive over Monte Subasio to Spoleto is also a fine experience.