Saint Agnese’s Cave
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Saint Agnese’s Cave

Along the western slope of the Monte Cucco Park, in the municipality of Costacciaro, at an altitude of 1,050 metres, is Saint Agnese’s cave. Located inside one of the largest and oldest beech forests on Monte Cucco, known as the “Pignola”, the cave is easily reached by following the marked hiking trail for about one kilometre along the road leading to Pian delle Macinare.

A popular destination for tourists and the site of occasional liturgical celebrations, the cave features a large hall of about 50 metres, formed by the dissolution and collapse of less compact rock layers.

Its current conformation, characterised by a large rocky vault that acts as a cover for the cave’s interior space, makes it an ideal shelter in case of bad weather. This natural shelter role is further evidenced by the presence of dry stone walls. Used in past times as a shelter for livestock, these probably date back to the presence of a hermit cell in use between the 12th and 13th centuries, which local tradition identifies as the place of retreat of the young Agnese.

Later, the interior of the cave housed a Christian place of worship that remained active until the beginning of the 15th century, as evidenced by a construction in the centre of the cave interpreted as a large stoup or altar base.

During the Second World War it became the refuge for the inhabitants of Costacciaro who wanted to escape forced conscription, while today the cave attracts numerous visitors every year, whose signatures and comments are collected in a book placed near the large cross in the centre of the rocky cavern.

Trail markings for Saint Agnese’s cave and rock formation called “Pecore Tarmiti” (Petrified sheep) in Monte Cucco Park

Trail to Saint Agnese’s Cave

Circles of stones inside Saint Agnese’s Cave in Monte Cucco Park, where the cross inside the cave can be seen

Inside Saint Agnese’s cave

Interior of Saint Agnese’s Cave in Monte Cucco Park with stone circles

Inside Saint Agnese’s Cave

Saint Agnese from Costacciaro

The cave owes its name to the story of Agnese, a young shepherdess who lived in the village of Costacciaro, the protagonist of a tragic tale still handed down orally today. Despite her father’s strict prohibition, the young girl had found in this natural shelter in the middle of the woods the ideal place to retreat secretly in prayer. One day, however, she was surprised in the cave by a shepherd, and her pleas to keep the secret were to no avail.

Informed by the shepherd, the father thus reached Agnese, tied her to his horse and dragged her along the path back to the village, subjecting her to a real martyrdom. It is said that, before leaving this world, Agnes cursed the man who had betrayed her by uttering the phrase: "May you, your sheep, and your dog turn to stone, with the knife and bread in your hands!"

Upon hearing these words, the shepherd who had caused Saint Agnese’s martyrdom turned to stone along with his sheep.

Even today, the story of Saint Agnese is remembered not only through the name of the cave, but also through the presence of a rock formation called “Pecore Tarmiti” (petrified sheep). In particular, one of the rocks, which appears to have a human form, has been identified precisely with the figure of the shepherd who, together with his sheep and his dog, was turned into a rock by Agnese’s last words.

 

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