“As you drive over the Passo Pian delle Fugazze in Italy, between Vivenza and Rovereto for the first time you are due for something of a surprise. The Leno valley of the Trento province is home to the Hermitage of San Colombano. You would expect a hermitage to be somewhat off the beaten track but this takes isolation to a new height – literally. One hundred and twenty meters up a cliff face, seemingly carved into the side of the deep valley the hermitage is in clear view. Yet it also sends a clear message that it was built for a specific reason – to remove its inhabitants far from the madding crown below. It was intended to be a place of isolated spiritual contemplation. Once it had been ridden of a pesky dragon, that is…” w/ photos