Rieti

Rieti is the chief town of the most northern and mountainous province of Lazio. It is situated between the Monti Reatini and the Monti Sabini and is exactly in the center of Italy. Medieval and Renaissance buildings are typical of the heart of the city. It stands in a basin called the conca reatina: a fertile area, the only plain in the province. The basin is all that is left of a lake drained at the beginning of the third century BC, restored in the Middle Ages, and drained once more in 1600. During the republican era of Rome, the Marmore waterfall was created to convey the waters of the Velino river to those of the Nera. Thus the whole area north of Rieti was reclaimed. 

The Conca Reatina is also an important destination for Catholics: there are many monasteries on the slopes of the surrounding hills, where St. Francis stayed.

Nature lovers can choose between visiting the nature reserve of the Rieti Lakes, or Monte Terminillo.

Anyone visiting Rieti in June should not miss the celebrations for St. Anthony of Padua: the faithful follow the procession barefoot, carrying large candles. 

Rieti-Information

By car

Rieti is 69 kilometers from Rome along the Via Salaria.

By train

There is no direct railway connection between Rome and Rieti. You can take a local train for Fara Sabina and from there a Cotral bus (Cotral is the public bus service). From Termini station you can take a train to Orte and from there another train to Rieti (two hours' journey).

By bus

From the Tiburtina bus station a Cotral bus bound for Rieti leaves every half hour (about an hour and a half). Cotral toll-free number: 800431784

Accommodation

Rieti and Terminillo: 1,000 rooms
The province: 3,000 rooms

Sanctuaries and churches

Santuario di Greccio: tel. 0746750127
Santuario di Poggio Bustone: tel. 0746688916
Convento di Fonte Colombo: tel. 0746210125
Convento de La Foresta: tel. 0746200085
San Antonio al Monte-Oasi Francescana: tel. 0746200690
Sanctuaries and churches in the province
Farfa Abbey (Fara in Sabina): tel. 0765277065
Santuario di Vescovio (Torri in Sabina): tel. 076560803

Nature reserves

Riserva naturale della Duchessa: tel .074630493
Riserva naturale Laghi Reatini: tel. 0746485341
Riserva naturale Dei Laghi Lungo e Ripa Sottile: tel. 0746200999

Spas

Terme Cottorella: tel. 0746271640
Terme di Cotilia: tel. 0746603036 (Open from 1 June to 31 October)

Museums and cultural institutes

Civic Archeological Museum: tel. 0775212314

Fairs and other events

Antiques market and exhibition: every third Sunday in the month

Dance Festival: "Città di Rieti" international dance competition: 16- 24 April.
Processione dei ceri (Candlelight procession): 20 June.
Historical commemoration of the world's first Nativity scene (1223) at the Santuario del Greccio: 24 December.
Fair of Santa Barbara, patron saint of the city: 4 December.

Culinary specialties

Fregnacce alla reatina: home-made pasta with tomatoes and olives.
Spaghetti all'amatriciana

Curiosities

Monte Terminillo is home to the church of San Francesco, with a mosaic 400 meters square and a relic of St. Francis: tel. 0746261121