The monastery or hermitage of Santa Maria di Mirteto dates back to the mid-12th century. The ancient structure, located 280 meters above sea level, included the church dependent on the monastery of San Michele in Verruca and later on the Pieve di Asciano.
How to get there
From Asciano Pisano take CAI path 119 uphill and after about 2 kilometers you will reach Mirteto, Valle delle Fonti.
The intermediate stop is the Cisternone, built by the Medici to purify the waters of the surface springs. The cistern is located inside and is capable of holding about 400 cubic meters of water (in 1860 it would have provided enough water for 33,000 people in 12 hours).
At about 280 m above sea level, shrouded in vegetation, you will finally see what remains of the ancient Hermitage of Santa Maria di Mirteto with its monastic outbuildings, houses, granaries and oil mill.
The trek will be a pleasant excursion to discover ancient places swallowed by time and nature.
The structure is unfortunately in a state of neglect surrounded by uncultivated vegetation but still retains its medieval layout accompanied by what remains of monastic outbuildings, houses, barns and oil mill.