The Hermitage of San Angelo is located in Lettomanoppello, within a natural cave at 650 meters above sea level. It was first documented in the Decrees of the First Holy Visit by Bishop Giosuè Maria Saggese in 1844, which mention a ruined church in the San Angelo area, where an annual procession was held on May 8. The hermitage houses a statue of Saint Michael the Archangel, with the original version now preserved in the Museum of the People of Abruzzo in Pescara. The cave, approximately 22 meters wide and 8 meters deep, is divided by a rock wall and features a stone-paved area known as the “Bed of San Angelo,” believed to be the remains of the old church.
Since ancient times, the site has been linked to Saint Michael’s cult and prehistoric ritual activities dating back to the Paleolithic. Historical accounts confirm that pilgrimages to the hermitage were common, and local devotion associates it with traditions of archangelic apparitions. Legends speak of “Saint Michael’s footprints” imprinted on the rock and sacred fabrics said to belong to him. Additionally, the annual May 8th procession, recorded in the 19th century, reinforces the site’s connection to the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo in Gargano, another significant pilgrimage destination dedicated to the archangel.
- Address
Parco Nazionale della Majella Vallone di S. Angelo, Lettomanoppello, Italy - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Always open - What to see
Natural cave, Statue of Angel
