On the pilgrimage route lies the town of Monte Casale, a place full of memories of Saint Francis in the forests of Valtiberina. On the way over the Alpe della Luna, a small monastery was built by Camaldolese monks in 1192. The complex, set in the woods and between watercourses, included a hospital and a hospice whose mission was to accommodate hikers.
The history of the hermitage of Montecasale took a new turn in 1213: it was donated to Saint Francis by the Bishop of Citta di Castello and became a place of utmost importance for Franciscan spirituality and tradition.
The hermitage is now the result of a restoration in the Renaissance style. The complex still preserves the original layout, characteristic of the oldest Franciscan monasteries, with the series of small buildings related to the monastic functions. The oldest surviving work of art is a valuable multicolored wooden sculpture of the Madonna and Child, rescued from the ruins of the nearby castle and brought here by Saint Francis. However, this is not the only trace that reminds us of the saint's presence in this place: the stone on which he slept, a crucifix, three small urns with some relics, two skulls of the three thieves he converted - the whole hermitage is rich in memories of Saint Francis.