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Cottanello gives its name to a typical pink stone, known as "Cottanello marble", which in geological terms can be defined as a reddish or pinkish marly limestone belonging to the Scaglia Rossa Formation. This stone was used especially between the 17th and 18th centuries by Bernini and Borromini to decorate many churches in Rome (including San Pietro, Sant'Agnese in Agone, Sant'Andrea al Quirinale). The main quarry is located about 1.5 km from the town, and its activity continued until the 1970s. Cottanello marble was also used in Roman times, in various locations and in monuments from different eras (e.g. Pompeii, Herculaneum, Ostia, Lucus Feroniae). Only one sculpture made of Cottanello is known, a large labrum, a basin with a pedestal that must have furnished a senatorial or imperial residence. In the Roman villa of Cottanello, stone is used in various ways: in its different more or less veined qualities, it is in fact used for the cubilia of wall coverings, for some thresholds, for the bases of porticoes, pavings and steps, for the mosaic tiles and for some architectural elements currently located in the peristyle, namely a shaft, two Tuscan capitals and a Doric capital. In 1722, the two little lions of Venice were created and placed in the little square that takes their name, or Piazzetta dei Leoncini, located near Piazza San Marco.

Belvedere at the end of the paved path that goes up from the Sanctuary

oasis of peace and tranquility

Legend tells of the famous "MUSHLES"!

1000 meters and an avalanche of paths.

An unfinished column is still visible

"The chapel erected on the peak which was always called Monte San Francesco, at 1203 m, recalls the hermit's place where Saint Francis lived, under a cloth stretched and tied to four hornbeams, before the foundation of the convent of Greccio. In 1713, Clemente XI wanted to build a chapel in memory. From up there, the view is beautiful: from the left you can see the pink Mount Vettore, then the Reatini mountains, up to the Velino group".

Large drinking water fountain near the shepherds' houses.