Nestled in the green woods along the road connecting Montefalcone Appennino to the contrada Luogo di Sasso, stands the ancient Convento di San Giovanni in Selva (Convent of St. John in Selva). Its origins date back to the 9th century, when monks from the Abbey of Farfa found refuge here to escape Saracen raids. Founded by the Farfa monks, the convent is also linked to Franciscan tradition: in 1223 (or 1215, according to some sources), it was entrusted by the Benedictines to St. Francis, who may have stayed at the site. The convent is surrounded by lush nature and legendary springs, including one dedicated to St. Francis, which is considered miraculous. Nearby also stands the “Fountain of San Bernardino,” recalling the presence of the saint. Inside the convent, renovated in the 18th century, is a cloister with a central well and a church dedicated to St. John the Baptist, adorned with stuccoes, a fine wooden choir from 1805 and a remarkable 19th-century Crucifix.
