This monumental complex
sited at the summit of the homonyms hill of Deserto, is certainly
in the most panoramic position of the sorrentine-amalfitan peninsula.
Its observation terrace is in fact amongst the most celebrated in
the whole of southern Italy.
Included in the publication "Journey
to Italy", today it still attracts thousand of visitors searching
for the marvellous panoramas over the two bays. Built by the bare-footed
Carmelite nuns in 1679 next to the chapel of Monte Calvario, it
passed to the order of the Bigi Fathers of father Ludovico of Casoria
in 1867. In 1980-81 after being abandoned for years, it was acquired
by the Benedictine nuns of San Paolo who, leaving their monastery
in Sorrento, have found their home in this building.
On the bell tower is the inscription
"Tempus breve est" (Time is short). The discovery of a
Greek cemetery and other necropolis on this hillside leads us to
believe that it was once one of the most important sanctuaries of
the antique world: "Temple of the sirens". For the high
degree of spirituality exercised by its historical and environmental
context, it has been chosen by the archi piscopal curia of our territory
as the "halting place" for the jubilee.
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