Official tourism site of the municipality of Castiglione della Pescaia
A walk through the monastic ruins of San Guglielmo
The Hermitage stands on the San Guglielmo’s tomb.
The remaining architectural structure covers a large area and is stands in the midst of dense thickets.
The mystical site is not accessible, but can only be seen externally by moving to a higher area in relation to the level of the complex.
The ruins show the layout of a single-nave church with a seventeenth-century altar made from red bricks and partially plastered.
In the adjoining convent we can distinguish the cells of the monks and a part of the cloister.
Although the saint stayed in this place for a fairly brief period, several miracles and legends are connected with the life of San Guglielmo in Castiglione della Pescaia.
He lived here until 10 February 1157, the day of his death, alone at first and then, from Epiphany 1156, with his disciple Alberto, who was then joined by a second companion named Rinaldo shortly before his death.
His way of life was simple and austere, with constant fasts and a diet of raw herbs, water and bread, which was brought to him from time to time by some of the faithful of Buriano. He would eat a hot meal and drink some diluted wine only three times a week.
