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In more than thirty years
I have left my town many times, but I
came back every time, because It's a very beautiful wild place. My
hometown is an unknown place for you so I’ll try to describe it.
Wild beause It's more 3000 years old, but It's not very developed. Town for those who want silent nights, only with the crickets. I think is
the plaisure of countryside. There is a
small railway to Terni and l'Aquila/Sulmona to the Adriatic sea. It's so far from
Rome, (80 km) but there isn't a railway to the capital, you can go to Rome
only by bus or to Fara Sabina, where there is a railway station to Rome and to
Fiumicino international airport.
The region is
on the mountains and Rieti is
on the large plain 400
m. high above the sea.
When was Rieti founded? Nobody knows this date exactly, but it
appeared even before ancient Rome, so it is possible to say that the
town is about 3000 years old. Can you imagine so long time? Rieti is
a present name, but its previous one was Reate. It is a female name
and that woman can be seen on our town insignia, she stretches out
the town key to Roman consul, Manio Curio
Dentato, which set the town free from the ancient
lake in the plain. From that time the
town wasn't an island in the middle of the lake but was situated on
the large plain. The water was taken away with the artificial
waterfall help. The
Marmore waterfall is visited with a lot of
tourists as a remarkable sights. In the center of the town there are
the most interesting and ancient places. There is a wonderful
underground restaurant in the ancient Tempio di Rea, a cathedral
"Santa Maria", and the "Palazzo dei Papi", where Pope
Bonifazio VIII sometimes lived. Besides there
are plenty magnificent palazzo of noble families. The ancient wine
cellar under St. Maria church is worth to be seen. Certainly, Rieti
is known not only thanks to the historical places of the ancient
Sabinia region. Its nature and touristic itineraries during any
season attract a lot of people. The health resort on the Terminillo
mountains was founded here last century. Delightful view on the
lakes
Salto, Turano and
the
park of Ripasottile lake
would fill your heart with
unforgettable serenity. There is an airport with the center of glider
and deltoplane flights.
Some beautiful and fascinating nature itineraries go through the
famous
St. Francis road. For a long time he has been living there
and even has built 4 cloisters in the mountains. About 10 km from
the town you can find the well known sulphur-spring health resort
Cotilia, where ancient Romans had rest. The neighbouring small towns
as
Cittareale,
Roccasinibalda,
Orvinio,
Collalto Sabino,
Labro ... also
are very interesting for the history amateurs.
Wood everywhere,
very tall mountains
(Terminillo 2213
m.), lakes, like Paterno, it's in the camin of ancient volcano. Many places of
our region are very wild, like
Fiamignano valley, Cicolano land,
Leonessa region.
You can hear the wolves in autumn and winter, because many places are still wild
and fascinating and above all non explorating at all. Have you ever been
in Switzerland? Well,
it looks a little similar with the endless mountains and green
valley, with castles on the mountains like in a tale of Rounde table Knights.
You probably wouldn’t want return home, after visiting my town
and the Sabina region. Finding a hotel or a camping wouldn't give you any
problems in Rieti, but I would advice you to try Agrotourism. The
home atmosphere with traditional dishes, horse rides and clear
springs with cool water could make you feel a new person full of
energy and forces. The best time for the view seeing is autumn or
spring. If you like having rest in the mountains and by the lakes, so
come here in summer. The
mountain ski fans should come to Rieti in
winter. Any season has its attraction for offer a lot of fun in this
little paradise. |
