The best cycling routes around Frasso Sabino

The sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie is linked to Nerola both dynastically and devotionally. It was indeed Raimondo Orsini, Duke of Gravina and Count of Nerola, who had the church and convent built for the Franciscan Amadeiti, as a sign of gratitude towards the blessed Amedeo Menezes da Silva. The venerated image of the Madonna delle Grazie came from the castle of Nerola, from where it was brought to the church in a solemn procession on Pentecost Day in 1480. Local sources report that the Madonna venerated in the sanctuary was found in the castle of Nerola, or at least kept there, and then transferred to the new conventual church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. According to the sanctuary's tradition, the blessed Amedeo found the image of the Madonna in the castle of Nerola by revelation and left the castle of Nerola in procession for its new home precisely upon the completion of the sanctuary's construction in 1480. In a later age, the image was first placed in the first side chapel and then, in 1826, on the high altar. The sources of the Via Mariana recall that the venerated image was crowned in 1779 and, after a theft, was crowned again in 2008 by Cardinal Angelo Comastri. Another record describes the image as placed above the altar, stripped after the theft and recently restored, also with the contribution of gold offered by the population. Alongside this Marian devotion, a wooden triptych commissioned by the Orsini from Antoniazzo Romano is also documented in the sanctuary, with the Madonna and Child between Saint Francis and Saint Anthony of Padua, but distinct from the miraculous image that is the object of popular worship.

Umbilicus Italiæ - Centro d'Italia, Rieti / Geographical Center of Italy In Piazza San Rufo, Varronian tradition places the so-called Umbilicus Italiae, the geographical center of Italy, commemorated by a plaque. Piazza San Rufo is located amidst the imposing buildings of the historic center, which line the main streets Via Roma and Via Garibaldi. In the center of the square, a section of wall, a remnant of the Roman city's first city walls, can be seen beneath the pavement. The value of this area is commemorated by a plaque and a monument with a unique shape, located exactly in the center of the square and aptly called "la caciotta" (the caciotta) for its rounded and circular design. The work, created between the 1980s and 1990s following the city's twinning with the Georgian capital Tbilisi, appears to resemble the base of a column and features the design of the Italian peninsula on its surface, accompanied by the inscription "Umbilicus Italiae" (Umbilicus Italiae), which runs along half the circumference of the monument itself. Text / Source: Official Tourist Portal of the City of Rieti https://www.visitrieti.com/2020/01/25/rieti-umbilicus-italiae/

Going down via Roma you reach the Velino bridge, known however by the same name as the one demolished in the thirties and placed, a little below, on the river bed: Roman bridge.

The view is simply phenomenal.

Beautiful place to visit

The first temple located in Monteleone Sabino dates back to at least the 3rd century

Poggio Moiano is a beautiful village of medieval origin, built on a hill overlooking the surrounding woods of the Monti Lucretili regional park. In the surrounding area there are various testimonies from the Roman era even if the first news of the town is later and dates back to the year 1000 AD. Here every year, during the last week of June for the feast of the Sacred Heart, the flower display takes place with the streets of the village transformed into enormous canvases for works made with flower petals.

The first temple located in Monteleone Sabino dates back to at least the 3rd century; it was rebuilt in Romanesque style in the 11th century, recovering part of the structures and much of the material from the pre-existing building.[1][2] Before the construction of the primitive chapel, built to house the remains of Saint Victoria, it seems that no place of Christian worship existed on the site. The site is archaeologically important due to the presence in the space around the church of remains from the Roman era: buildings, architectural details and tombs. The oldest part, adjacent to the catacombs, which preserves tombs from the imperial age of the Decian period. A short distance away are the ruins of a Roman villa, with a cistern connected to underground springs. For a long time there was the habit of the faithful to drink this water, because it was close to the tomb of Saint Victoria. Starting from 593 Pope Gregory I reunited various dioceses in the Trebula Mutuesca area. In 817 Pope Stephen IV re-entrusted the sanctuary to the Benedictine monks, which by now must have reached considerable dimensions, with three internal naves and a bell tower... follows "https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santuario_di_Santa_Vittoria#Storia" The powerful Orsini family had important restoration and conservation works carried out in the 15th century. In 1574, following the Council of Trent, Bishop Pietro Camaiani assigned an income to the church, so that it was kept in good condition.[4] The building was restored starting in 2018, to repair the damage caused by the earthquake that hit the area in 2016 and to counteract the slow collapse of the embankment on which the structure is located. The interventions concerned the internal roofing, protection against water infiltration and deformations of the bell tower.[1]