The chapel of San Donato, with its adjoining hermitage, is located at an altitude of 380 meters above the village of Ronchena, in the municipality of Borgo Valbelluna. San Donato is celebrated on August 7th, and popular devotion links him to Saint Donato, Bishop and Martyr of Arezzo.
Perhaps of Longobard origin, it is first documented in 1529.
The church is a simple single-nave building that narrows towards the presbytery; the oldest plaster probably dates back to the 15th century and is present on the wall of the presbytery, depicting a series of saints.
The Altar, made of carved, painted, and gilded wood, can be dated between the end of the 17th and the 18th century, with a frame enclosing a canvas by an unknown author, depicting the Madonna with Child on the throne and Saints Donato and Bartolomeo.
From the church or through an independent small door, one enters the true hermitage, consisting of two floors connected by an internal staircase. On the ground floor, there is a room likely once used as a kitchen, and on the upper floor, following recent restorations, a usable space has been created.
On the right wall of the hall, there is the copy of the canvas by Luigi Cima, made by the local painter Toni Piccolotto in 1961, depicting the Madonna of Caravaggio, while on the counter façade, there is the coat of arms within an oval shield, likely belonging to the Bishop of Ceneda Marcantonio Agazzi (1692-1710).
From the end of the 17th century to the mid-18th century, the presence of hermits is documented. For a long period, they belonged to the Order of Saint Augustine and later to the Third Franciscan Order.
The hermitage is available to pilgrims by contacting the parish of Lentiai.
The church can be visited during the event "Fragments of Art in Valbelluna" and on special occasions.
