Overview
Immersed in a forest of holm oaks from which it takes its name, the Lecceto Hermitage is almost invisible when you approach it, hidden by the lush vegetation of the province of Siena. Trees have protected the monastery since its foundation in the early 13th century. It was enlarged and transformed several times before it took the form we see today.
Inside there is a Baroque nave with a scarsella at the end and 14th-century frescoes, which survived the stripping of artwork during the Napoleonic era. Exit the church and head towards the two cloisters, one in Gothic style, the other displaying typical 15th-century features. The surrounding monastery buildings have been occupied by Augustinian cloistered nuns since 1972.
