Convent of Cospiti
Path of medium difficulty that crosses Mount Murillo and leads to a fantastic view overlooking Amalfi and its surroundings, as well as the romantic remains of a solitary medieval convent, abandoned during the 19th century and became a refuge for brigands after the Unification of Italy.
• Length: About 4,5 Km
• Travel time: About 3 hours
• Start point: Piazza Generale Avitabile, S. Lazzaro
Information on values and points of interest
Despite the relative shortness of the route, this excursion to the eastern border of the Agerola area takes you through different landscapes, allows you to discover new panoramas and combines various types of values.
Leaving the last houses, you go along a mule track that - in the Middle Ages - led to Amalfi, passing by Cospita and Vettica Minore. Once the ascent towards M. Murillo is completed you can admire, towards the west, a panorama in which the Conca di Agerola appears as if suspended over the coast, while the island of Capri peeps out from behind the bulk of M. Tre Calli. once the descent has begun, the landscape becomes decidedly more rocky and articulated. The limestone layers, locally very deformed by the thrusts of the Apennine orogeny, give rise to vertical walls with caves and also to a small spire, in which popular tradition recognizes a monk. And it was probably the monks of the Convent we are heading to (S. Salvatore de Cospiti) who carved the steps that help to overcome the last drop in the rock.
The date of foundation of the convent is unknown, but it is reported in documents from the 12th century and it is said that it was visited by St. Francis of Assisi and Pope Sixtus IV. It was built on a sub-flat ledge between the sheer walls that descend from M. Murillo to the Nocito gorge; in a decidedly favorable scenario for mysticism. Even the cave in the wall above the ruins (partly reshaped by man) must have been a place of ascetic contemplation. Today even the most secular hiker remains at least enchanted by the view from here on Amalfi (which appears very close below), Ravello, the Monti del Demanio, Capo d'Orso and the blue of the Gulf of Salerno.
Route information
From P.za Avitabile proceed towards Punta Belvedere and, after 100 m, turn left onto via Radicosa, covering the entire uphill stretch. You pass an obvious curve to the left and continue straight on the uphill road that enters the village of S. Lucia; after the last houses, continue on a flight of steps. Proceed on level ground, crossing a coppice chestnut wood and, after about another 200 m, at the height of a centuries-old chestnut tree, turn right to take a mule track which, after about 300 m slightly uphill, turns left and skirts a cliff rocky (be careful!). At the height of a small and steep gorge you meet the daring descent on the rock that leads to the grassy ledge that is a prelude to the ruins of the monastery (already visible from above). The descent is not recommended for the inexperienced and for those suffering from vertigo, even if there is a handrail that helps balance. From here the descent, skirting the high vertical rocky wall, is simple to the plateau that houses the ruins. After having visited them, you start your return by taking the path with a fence that goes uphill towards the hinterland (North East) passing downstream of a rocky wall; where this disappears, take the path on the left which, through chestnut groves, walks along the southern side of M. Murillo and then descends to S. Lucia. Obviously, those wishing to avoid the aforementioned passage on rock of the descent (not easy for everyone), can use the route suggested here for the return also for the outward journey.