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The first news about these places dates back to the 13th century, between the years 1237-1239, when the Blessed Bernardo da Quintavalle took refuge in the caves of Mount Crestaio near Sefro. Blessed Bernardo, faithful observer of the rule of the Spirituals, after the death of St. Francis, was forced to flee from Assisi to escape the persecutions of Elia, who wanted to observe the Rule in a less rigid way. The friar lived in these places for over two years using one cave as a refuge and probably another as a church. In fact, inside the latter, there is a horizontal stone that seems to recall the table of an altar. The population of Sefro has known these caves since ancient times and referred to them as "caves of the friars" or even "the Prisons" since they were used by various hermits who lived prisoners of themselves.
Source: https://www.iluoghidelsilenzio.it/eremo-di-san-bernardo-da-quintavalle-sefro-mc/