Located at an altitude of 1500 meters, the Hermitage of San Luca stands in a place of extraordinary natural beauty. Built within a natural hollow at the base of a rock wall, it is one of the most majestic cave hermitages. The interior is carved into the rock, while the outer walls are made of stone or wood. The hermitage consists of two separate rooms: one served as a dwelling, while the other was a chapel for prayer, featuring an altar with an image of Saint Luke.
According to legend, Saint Luke found rest here on his journey from Rome to Palestine. Over the centuries, hermits lived in solitude and poverty within this rock sanctuary.
During World War II, the hermitage provided shelter for a group of New Zealand soldiers who had escaped from the Fonte d’Amore prison camp in Sulmona. The villagers helped them, but this act of solidarity led to the tragic execution of the Fiadino brothers from Capracotta by German soldiers.
Today, the Hermitage of San Luca remains a place of devotion and tradition. Every year, on September 10, the inhabitants of Pescopennataro and surrounding areas carry the image of Saint Luke in a procession through the village. On October 18, the icon is taken back to the hermitage on foot, in a ritual that blends faith and remembrance.