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.

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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