The way of St. Francesco. The Sanctuaries

Starting for an itinerary that will run clockwise perimeter of Rieti plain, will meet for first the Sanctuary of St. Maria of the Forest, about 5 km from the city. Nestled in the lush green woods and lulled by the sound source, where the Poor Man probably wrote the immortal Canticle of the Creatures. Continuing the journey, is the Hermitage of Poggio Bustone. Legend says that St. Francesco on his arrival to the villagers uttered the famous phrase "Good morning, good people". The third stage will lead to the famous Sanctuary of Greccio, which amaze the traveler because of its location nestled in the mountains. After a short uphill road, the visitor will be amazed to discover step by step the way of life of St. Francesco and the stone placed in his cell, on which he slept. The sanctuary is famous worldwide for being the home of the first re-enactment of the Nativity in 1223. Then on to the last stage, the Sanctuary of Fonte Colombo, the site chosen by San Francisco to draw up the definitive Rule of the Order. Everything is sacred: buildings, the source of pure water and the forest itself, because it contains the Sacro Speco, the cave in which the Rule was written.