ITALY TRAVELEscape
Town in the province of Rieti

Rieti

Rieti is a town of 44,866 inhabitants in the province of Rieti, in Lazio, Italy. It is the capital of its province.

The municipality covers 206.52 km², with a density of 217 inhabitants per km².

The nearest airport is Rome Ciampino (CIA), about 71 km away as the crow flies. Read our guide to the airport.

Things to see in Rieti

The navel of Italy

Rieti, in a green basin of the Apennines north east of Rome, has long been called the geographical centre of Italy, the "Umbilicus Italiae". It is the heart of the Sabina and of the Holy Valley of St Francis.

What to see

The cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Bishops' Palace, with its huge vaulted loggia, dominate the upper town. Underneath the streets runs Rieti Sotterranea, the remains of the Roman viaduct of the Via Salaria. Walk along the medieval walls, see the Velino river and the central square where a plaque marks the centre of Italy. Above the city, Monte Terminillo is "Rome's mountain" for skiing and hiking.

Food

Stracciatella soup, fregnacce pasta, Sabina extra virgin olive oil, one of the oldest in Italy, and the amatriciana from nearby Amatrice.

Around Rieti

The four Franciscan sanctuaries of the Holy Valley, including Greccio, where St Francis created the first nativity scene, the Lakes Turano and Salto, Labro, Leonessa, the abbey of Farfa near Fara in Sabina and the Marmore Falls. Rome Fiumicino is about 1 hour 30 minutes away.

Rieti on the map

Nearby towns

All towns in the province of Rieti →

Where to stay in and around Rieti

Tours and activities nearby

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