The Hermitage of San Michele a le Grottelle is located in Padula, along the east side of the hill of San Sepolcro, at a height of about 750 m. above sea level

The place, already frequented in the pagan age, was dedicated to the god Attis, when Christianity took over paganism, the church was dedicated to San Michele Arcangelo and San Giacomo, as can be seen from the newsstand and the statue therein. In the 11th century the sanctuary belonged to the monastery of San Nicola al Torone and in 1538 the Certosa di Padula acquired the hermitage and all the territories of the Abbey of San Nicola al Torone.

Currently the Hermitage is owned by the parish of San Michele Arcangelo. The cave is preceded by an atrium (closed by a gate) and the sacristy was built at the entrance to the cave. In the rocky concavity on the left you can see the remains of 15th century frescoes depicting the coronation of the Virgin and the Dormitio Mariae, always on the left near the entrance there is the tomb of Bernardino Brancaccio (1538).

In the cave, on the right, there is the altar with frescoes made by the Carthusians in 1693 (cycles on San Lorenzo and Santo Stefano). The altar is surmounted by an arch and a large frame, behind which there is an aedicule following the Marian cycle which can be dated to around the 15th century. On the right we find the frescoes of the cycle of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria, San Benedetto and a Madonna. On the back wall is represented St. James, whose miracles are illustrated. The external area of the niche has a curved frame at the top with three panels depicting the Annunciation and the Eternal.