In the early 1600s, the Orsini family of Bracciano and Monterano, who had recently added Oriolo, Vejano and Rota to their territories, decided to encourage the building of a hermitage on Mount Sassano.  Virginio Orsini, Carmelite monk and son of the duke of the same name, renounced his wordly goods and obliged his brother, Paolo Giordano, to donate an important sum of money to the Discalced Carmelite Order for the building of the hermitage. Work began in 1651 and ended in 1668.
The convent was an imposing rectangular construction. There were twelve cells for the monks on the ground floor, along with nine guest rooms, places of worship and utility rooms such as kitchen, refectory, pantries, library and a meeting room. The building enclosed a large, open cloister. The hermitage soon became a flourishing farming company with arable fields, vegetable gardens, vineyards, orchards, stables and barns for animals. Two industrial establishments were also set up: a stone quarry and a brick kiln which was active until 1951.
The Church stands at the north face of the hermitage and is still in reasonable condition. It houses some notable art treasures, including Flemish canvases attributed to Fra Lucas, which have recently been restored: the altarpiece “Presentation of the Virgin Mary at the Temple/Presentazione della Vergine Maria al Tempio”, “The Birth of Jesus/Nascita di Gesù”, “The presentation of Jesus at the Temple/La presentazione di Gesù al Tempio” and “Our Lady with the Saints”.
The Church is open to the public on Sunday mornings only, as the flow of visitors during the rest of the week would disturb the Brothers' seclusion.

Galleria fotografica