Description

The Eremo di San Michele (Hermitage of St. Michael) crag is surrounded by the woods of the Tancia Mountain, few Km from the Poggio Catino hamlet.

As the approach is comfortable (even if not short) and the space under the rock wall is wide, It’s good for families with children.

The routes are of medium difficulty and medium length, through nice wall of good limestone, in part overhanging with tufas,  and in part vertical with crimps.

The crag is ideal for climbing in the mid season, when the whole day can be exploited to climb.

It was discovered by  Alfredo Smargiassi, and, many years later, re-equipped by Gianni De Marchi (that established some new routes too).

The location is very suggestive: the rock wall is up the slopes of the Tancia Mountain. At its basis there are the ruins of the dwelling of the friars of the St. Michael Hermitage.  At the top right of the rock wall there is the Cave of St. Michael, that can be reached by a comfortable staircase.  This cave, that in the pre-Christian time was a place of worship of a  local deity, was dedicated to St. Michael following a dream of St. Sylvester.

Approach

Either from North or from South, take the motorway A1 Milano-Napoli, and exit at Ponzano Romano. Then continue direction Stimigliano for few Km. Once at the T junction with the SR 657, turn right direction Poggio Mirteto, Roccantica and Poggio Catino. Continue along the SR 657, up to the T junction with the SR 313 (at Galantina). Once at that junction, turn left toward Roccantica and Poggio Catino (that is, direction Terni). Continue up to the fork with Via Galantina (Galantina road). Once there, turn right following the signs to Poggio Catino. After few Km pass Poggio Catino going toward Monte San Giovanni in Sabina (that is taking Tancia road). After about 6 Km, just passed through a very narrow bridge on a creek (it’s wide as one car) look for an evident widening on the left and park here. there is a wood sign to the Eremo di San Michele (St. Michael Hermitage)