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The church-hospital of Santa Croce, now deconsecrated, is linked to the final days of Caravaggio’s life; he died there on July 18, 1610, after disembarking at the Sbarcatello.
The Santa Croce Hospital Church was one of the three hospitals in Porto Ercole.
The building, which is no longer a place of worship, features a portal made of cavernous limestone with two crosses carved into the jambs.
This is where Michelangelo Merisi, known as Caravaggio, spent the last days of his life.
On July 16, he likely landed at Sbarcatello, a small beach located southwest of Porto Ercole that had eluded the Spanish authorities’ strict control.
The painter had a death sentence hanging over his head, and he was desperately searching for the felucca carrying his paintings.
The three paintings were, in fact, his only hope of receiving a papal pardon. Wounded, ill, and suffering from the extreme heat, he fainted; he was rescued and takento the hospital of the Confraternity of Santa Croce, which took in and cared for foreigners.
After two days of agony, he died on July 18, 1610, and was buried in the cemetery of San Sebastiano.
Santa Croce Hospital is located within a historic district with restricted traffic (ZTL), so it is not possible to reach it by car.
The nearest access point is Piazza Ricasoli, where you may stop your car to let passengers out. From there, a pedestrian path leads to the church, and the hospital is the adjacent building.
The trail is about 100 meters long, with an elevation gain of about 20 meters.
The path follows a stone-paved road, which becomes a steep staircase with uneven steps in the final section. This section requires a good level of physical fitness.
The historic stone pavement has an uneven surface and a steep incline.
For this reason, we recommend wearing comfortable, sturdy shoes with non-slip soles.
