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How to resist then to the wonderful view of Greccio Sanctuary; built between the holm oak woods and in front of the near small town.
Here in 1223, according to the tradition, Saint Francis of Assisi represented in a cave the birth of Jesus (ritual diffused then all over the world). If you visit Greccio on 24 or 26 December you can also see a ceremony with traditional costumes reminding that event.
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The panorama you can see there and the extraordinary architectonic structure is enough to include this place in your itinerary.
You will be profoundly impressed and in silence however looking at the XIII century “San Bonaventura” small church, with is Wood Choir perfectly preserved, the “San Francesco” Oratorio and the “San Bonaventura” Dormitory.
It is probably linked to the wooden simplicity of that period art, for the extraordinary construction of the structure (part of it carved directly into the mountain) or for the religious tradition of this place but the poetic and mystic atmosphere you can smell there, that has probably also accompanied the life, the absorption and the meditation of the friars in the past, will be a strong pleasant feeling, hard to forget.
The visit is recommended in the less tourist influx periods.
From the “Leggenda Perugina”, 34 from the Franciscan sources <<Francesco amava l'eremo di Greccio, dove i frati erano virtuosi e poveri, e aveva una predilezione anche per gli abitanti di quella terra per la loro povertà e semplicità. Perciò si recava spesso a riposare e soggiornare là, attirato inoltre da una celletta estremamente povera e isolata, dove il padre santo amava raccogliersi.">>.
For who loves art you can find in the Chapel a painting representing the Nativity, probably tinted by the Narni teacher in 1409. Outside the chapel two paints related to the “Marche” school representing a Nativity and San Giovanni Battista.
The Greccio town and the Franciscan sanctuary has recently been included in the 754 art places protected by the UNESCO in the “World Heritage” program.
If you have decided to visit the Sanctuary, don't lose also the other places of our Franciscan Itinerary.
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One of the most suggestive side of the “Sabina” area is the deep spiritual link with Saint Francis of Assisi, founder of Franciscan order and patron of Italy. He spent in fact one of the most intensive part of his life in this area, also called the “Saint Valley”.
We suggest you then this itinerary: following the tracks and the evidences left in that places still today pregnant of mysticism and hearty devotion. Official website: www.camminodifrancersco.it You can see the map on the official website or here . Not everybody knows for example that an initial part of Saint Francis life is linked with the city of Rieti: where various miracles and manifestation of charity with people, art and all the creatures have token place. Places to visit in this case are the magnificent “Palazzo Papale” and the Oratory near “Santa Croce” hospital, where the big “San Francesco” church has been built and finished in 1253. Four kilometres far from Rieti there is instead the “S. Maria della Foresta” sanctuary also known with the simply name of “La Foresta”. The “San Damiano” small church is even today a high suggestiveness place, perfect for who is looking for peace and tranquillity.
You will be profoundly impressed and charmed by the profound silence of this place: Saint Francis chose it in fact to escape external world chaos and the warm but stifling believer hug. A intense green forest, with the nice sound of water sources and birds; you will be profoundly impressed by the atmosphere probably source of promptings for the “Cantico delle Creature” work. Seventeen kilometres far from Rieti, in the Longo and Ripasottile lakes preserve there is instead the “Poggio Bustone” sanctuary.
This place in surrounded by nature, reminding visitors of the simplicity and the quietness that the Saint would highly appreciate.
It has a very suggestive history: San Francesco arrived in Poggio Bustone in 1209, after fleeing from the hostility of his fellow-citizens. In the wildest part of the mountain, thanks to his prayers and penances, he found the divine relation of forgiveness for the kind of life he had led in the past.
"Good day, good people" (“Buongiorno buona gente”) were the simple words that the Saint spoke to the inhabitants of that place. The kind of reception, love and politeness that he received there, are the same that will welcome you, unchanged throughout time and spirit. Some unfailing elements of the extraordinary life of San Francesco were the solitary contemplation and the contact with the surrounding nature. If you happen to pass by “Rivodutri”, we suggest you stop there for half an hour in order to take a walk in the nature and secular woods of these lands, to discover San Francesco's beech tree. You can follow for 4 kilometres the country road from Rivodutri to Cepparo village, around the Fausola mountain slopes (1100 meters on the sea-level).
You can follow the Saint Francis way that, according to the tradition, during one of his mystic retreat found a repair under this tree from a tempest. The tree changed then the position of its branches to protect the Friar. Even if you are not religious or you won’t trust in this legend you will be impressed by this natural wonder: with its sinuous branches that creates irregular wonderful knots.
Someone says this is due to a natural mutation but it’s surprising to know that there are just two more examples like that in the world. Seventeen kilometres far from Rieti, in the west part of its valley, you can admire instead the Greccio sanctuary. It is easy to understand, looking at this wonderful architectonic structure mounted in the rocky mountain, why it is called the new Bethlehem (for the ideation here of the first Nativity representation) and has been included in the 754 UNESCO sites part of the “World Heritage” program. But you way on the Saint Francis tracks continue with one of the most important stage. This is the “Fonte Colombo” sanctuary situated five kilometres far from Rieti and also called the Franciscan Sinai. Here in fact in 1223 the Saint received the Rule to found his friar order.
Here, in the most hide part of a secular holm oak forest, in the most green side of the Raniero mountain, you have found the holiest place of your way. The atmosphere you can breath is exceptional; starting from the buildings to the pure water source and the cave where the Rule has been written.
You can visit also the “Maddalena” small church, dedicated to Jesus mother. The simplicity of the lines, the sobriety of the decorations and the typical environment are all symbols linked to Saint Francis and inspiration for his order during the centuries. The last two steps of our itinerary are the “San Francesco” Temple and the Posta village. The former has been built at 1,623 meters on the sea-level on the Terminillo mountain when Saint Francis has been proclaimed patron of Italy by Pope Pio XII in 1939. Perfectly merging its architectonic structure with high valuable mosaics, sculptures and furniture it keeps as a casket the most precious trace: the tomb of the Saint in front of which a light is perpetually burning. If you happen to arrive to Posta village (S.S. 4 in the Passo Corese direction or Rieti direction if you are coming from Acquila) you can see some traces the Saint left in this place, at that time called “Machilone” and at the Naples kingdom borders. You can find in fact the Saint Francis church that would come from the original and smaller church of “San Matteo”, the first one created by the Franciscan order.
According to the legend the Saint, moving through this village, donated his coat and twelve breads to an hilly woman, too poor to cure her eyes. You will see that the Franciscan love and spirit there is even today still unchanged.
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Also called “Sabatino” the Bracciano lake is the second in Lazio for surface and is characterized by its circular shape (typical volcanic origin) and its 165 metres dept.
The area (including the nearby and geological similar Martignano lake) is part of the “Bracciano – Martignano” Regional preserve and has an important naturalistic value (wide vegetation, uncontaminated forest and a rich aquatic fauna thanks also the engine-navigation prohibition).
A barrage, built by the end of the XVIII century and still today perfectly working, keeps the water level regular and feeds the “Paolino” aqueduct (ideated by Pope Paolo V in the XVII century) that supplies the Vatican.
The lake and its area is a tourist place and a pleasant typical destination for holidays, thanks also to its numerous artistic and archaeological itineraries.
Suitable for sailing, canoeing and windsurf is also a place for international competitions.
On the lake shores there are also the nice villages of Anguillara Sabazia and Trevignano Romano (back to Bracciano).
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The Bracciano castle, that dominates the entire town and the lake, is probably one of the most impressive in the Lazio region (the second for its extent) and one of the most important and well preserved in Italy. Someone knows Bracciano only for its castle: don’t lose the occasion to visit it then if you are in this area.
With its quadrilateral shape (and one side extended to make a small inner rectangle) the castle inherits this configuration from its two phase edification. The smaller rectangle, with its broken tower, was built around the original “Prefetti di Vico” tower, while the other walls and the communication trench were part of the fortifications done by the Orsini family.
Thanks to the determination and patronage of the initiator Napoleone Orsini and his family, the castle become during the centuries a Renaissance court: siege of artistic cenacles, society life and famous personages. Among them we can find the king of France Charles VIII (moving to Rome), Clemente VIII, Sisto IV (escaping from Rome during the pestilence) and Marcantonio Colonna.
The importance of this castle is linked also to its sumptuous interiors: its ornaments, potteries, medieval armaments and decoration, not to mention finally the valuable frescoes. You can admire in fact the Papal Room (decorated by the mannerist Taddeo Zuccari), the Pisanello room or the Isabella room (with its wonderful panelled ceiling).
The transport and the sensation caused by this view are really extraordinary: we won’t tell you more about. Probably the emotion for the discovery and the genuineness of this travel in the past will impress you the same intensity has happened with us.
The castle has also a museum, opened in 1956 and conceived by the prince Don Livio IV Odescalchi. You can cross over the 19 rooms, for a surface of around 3,000 square metres. You can follow the way around the frescoes, the ornaments and the original decorations and breath the magic medieval atmosphere, discovering the most secret corners.
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Papal Palace is a palace in Viterbo, northern Latium, Italy. It is the most important monument in the city. The Papal seat has been moved in 1257 by Alexander IV due to the hostility of the Roman commune: the former Bishops Palace was thus enlarged to provide the Popes with an adequate residence. The construction, commissioned by the Capitano del popolo ("People's Capitain") Raniero Gatti, was completed probably around 1266.
 Palace Loggia |  The Dome |  Back view |
The massive façade, facing the central San Lorenzo Square, is preceded by a staircase completed in 1267. On the right side is a wide loggia with seven arcades, supported by slender doubled columns and decorated with crests and reliefs. The top of the walls is decorated with square merlons. On the loggia is also a 15th century fountain, made with material of various ages, sporting the coat of arms of the Gatti family. After Alexander IV, the palace was the seat of Urban IV, Gregory X, John XXI, Nicholas III and Martin IV, who moved to Orvieto in 1281. They were all elected in the most famous hall of the palace, the Sala del Conclave.
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In the vast set of Viterbo's thermal baths, the "Terme dei Papi" deserve a remarkable place.
These waters are famous throughout the central Italian regions and also abroad. They offer a monumental and thermal complex, that comprehends also the Nicolò V Hotel. An exceptional place.
The environment is comfortable (able also to host handicapped) and can offer thermal treatments and also a modern centre for fitness with swimming pool, sauna, hammam and solarium. Very interesting is also the cosmetology and body care centre providing the most advanced and efficient treatments thanks also to a skilled and professional staff.
In the “Terme dei Papi” you can enjoy the “Bullicame” water. It comes directly from one of the most famous sulphurous Viterbo’s pools through and underground water pipe preserving the temperature at 58 degrees. One other source (called “Bagno del Papa”) springs exactly in the Baths even if it has less therapeutic properties.
If you decide to spend here on of your day, having comfort and relax, you have to try also the famous mud baths. They are extracted directly from the Bullicame pool depth, where the numerous sources enrich them of precious minerals and active components, and are used one-way for each treatment to keep their regenerating and curative properties.
Suggested for a relaxing day or a therapeutic bath, in a very pleasant water whose warm temperature is adapted also in winter. If you consider to enjoy a longer sojourn or take advantage of the other services the Baths have more than 60 treatments (even if not really cheap).
The “Terme dei Papi” are open the whole year.
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