Immersed in the green of the woods, near streams and natural caves, the hermitage of Montecasale was founded in 1213 by Francesco who received it as a gift from the bishop of Città di Castello. The building, dating back to the 11th century, probably acquires its present appearance in 1500. The most ancient work of art is the very valuable sculpture of the Madonna and child that is wanted brought by the Poverello from the ruins of the nearby castle. But the whole hermitage is rich in Franciscan memories: the oratory with the stone that served as a bed for Francis; a crucifix carried by the Saint; three small urns containing some relics and two skulls of the three thieves whose conversion the biographer tells of.
Outside the convent you can see the source of San Francesco, according to some made by himself; the source of “Grappa l'Orso” where the three thieves drink; the Sasso Spicco, where it is said that Francis competed with the nightingale in singing the praises of God, and the little garden where, according to tradition, Francis verifies the obedience capacity of two young men wishing to become friars.
Once, two young people came to Blessed Francis, begging him to be received into the Order. Blessed Francis, wanting to prove whether they were truly obedient and prepared to deny their will, led them into the garden saying: “Come, let's plant cabbages; and as you see me doing, so in that way you plant too ”. While the blessed Francis, planting, put the roots upwards towards the sky, and the leaves under the ground, and one of them did everything like the blessed Francis, the other did not imitate him, but said: "Not so, Father, cabbages are planted, but the other way around ”. And blessed Francis replied: "Son, I want you to do as I do". But not wanting to do it, because it seemed wrong to him, Blessed Francis said to him: "Brother, I see that you are a great teacher, go your way, because you are not suitable for my Order". And accepted the first young man, rejected him. (Fra 'Bartolomeo da Pisa)