리파 소틸레 호수 주변 최고의 가족 하이킹 & 워킹 코스

Sanctuary of Grecchio, one of the four shrines of St. Francis around Rieti Valley. Here, Francis depicted the Christmas story with living figures to help the local farmers understand it. Since then, setting up a nativity scene at Christmas has been a custom throughout most of the Christian world. Grecchio is a very special place

Many different representations of the one event, the incarnation of God, which cannot be understood with the mind, are brought together here in images. They are intended to help us to recognize the invisible - God's presence in this world - through the visible sign of the manger.

One of the few saints who is highly valued outside of Christianity is San Francesco, known in German-speaking countries as Francis of Assisi. Francis was born in Assisi in 1181/82 and died in 1226. In his youth, as the son of wealthy parents, he was more of a bon vivant, but later he turned to Christ. One day he was praying in the half-ruined church of San Damiano, located on a hillside outside the city walls of Assisi, and heard the voice of Christ from the cross, calling on him to "rebuild his church". At first he took this request literally and restored the church building, but later he came to the realization that this was primarily about the church as the community of believers. Francis became a role model for many people, they joined him and the "Order of the Minor Brothers" (Ordo Fratrum Minorum) of Francis of Assisi was founded. Today, there are three male branches in the vast Franciscan order: the Franciscans, the Minorites and the Capuchins; and two female branches: the Franciscan sisters and the Poor Clares. In addition, there is the "Third" or "Secular" Order, which can be joined by women and men who do not take the classic religious vows (poverty, chastity and obedience) and continue to live in their families and professions.

Small village overlooking Lake Piediluco

Purchase the splendid objects created by hand by Mrs. Filomena, it is located in a sort of box on the main road...

Above the town of Greccio, in the wooded hills of the Rieti Valley (located about halfway between Assisi and Rome), Saint Francis combined Christmas mass with a nativity scene on Christmas Eve 1223. In some depictions of this Christmas event there is a peculiarity: the baby Jesus is not lying in the manger or in his mother's lap, but is being taken in Francis's arms. Even though Francis is often referred to as the founder of the European nativity scene tradition, there have also been nativity scenes before. But what was important to him was the vivid representation of the event - actually incomprehensible to the mind - that the great, infinite God becomes human. San Francesco connects the divine childhood of Jesus with the celebration of the Eucharist, in which the living God gives himself to us again - this time in the form of bread and wine. “We have come to worship HIM” – that was the motto of the XX. World Youth Day, which was celebrated in Cologne in August 2005. Every Christmas picture, every nativity scene invites the viewer to follow this motto and to emulate the Three Wise Men (the first pilgrims to Christ), Francis of Assisi and all the saints.

nice ride after 2 years without a bike

This is the place where St. Francis created the first crib of the Christian tradition. The Sanctuary stands in an exceptional position, clinging to the rock and with a unique view of the Rieti plain, nearby Greccio and the Terminillo massif. It can be visited every day and is open from 09.00 to 18.00. Whether you are a believer or not, it is highly suggestive to visit this place, especially during the Christmas period.