Category: Things to do in the surrounding area

Discovering the most intimate and hidden Sabina is possible, periodically, thanks to FAI – the Italian Environment Fund – which every year organizes days dedicated to culture, art, history and nature.  And it allows us to enter places that are often inaccessible or not always open to the public.

After the visits of the previous editions to the Hermitage of San Michele al Tancia, the Abbey of San Pastore in Contigliano, the Grotta dei Massacci and Poggio San Lorenzo, the village of Montasola and the Garden of Colle Mola, with the FAI Days of Autumn, on 15 and 16 October 2022 it will be possible to visit the village of Rocchette and the “ghost” fortress of Rocchettine, in the municipality of Torri in Sabina.
Rocchette and Rocchettine, originally known as Rocca Bertalda and Rocca Guidonesca, were built starting from the 13th century with the function of controlling the valley between Rieti and the Tiber river.  It is no coincidence that they are perched on two limestone spurs, in a strategic position, right in the narrowest point of the valley, and protected by towers and different layers of walls.  Facing each other, in constant visual communication with each other, the two twin fortresses had a very different destiny. Continue reading “FAI Autumn Days 2022. On 15 and 16 October discovering Rocchette and Rocchettine” →

Today we’re proposing a suggestive natural environment, teeming with life: the Nazzano Tevere-Farfa natural area. Established in 1979, it is the oldest among those in the Lazio Region. Its borders are found in its name, and in fact the Tiber River, its tributary, the Farfa stream and Lake Nazzano are indicated within a territory divided between the Metropolitan City of Rome and the province of Rieti. Just 30 kilometres from the Residenze del Borgo di Cicignano, along the Strada Regionale 657, the kingdom of water and biodiversity!

The Kingdom of Water and Biodiversity

Water, consisting of two rivers and a lake, is the reserve’s preponderant element. Lake Nazzano is nothing more than an artificial basin, created following the construction of a dam, which took place in the 1950s, by the electricity company Enel, on the Tiber, in the immediate vicinity of the confluence with the Farfa river. An aquatic environment means a hunting reserve for many species of birds and birds of prey, which regularly nest here, while the lush reeds along the shores offer shelter and protection to many mammals. Continue reading “The Tiber Farfa Nature Reserve: on foot, on horseback, by bike and by boat” →

Where there’s good food, you’ll find festivals. Imagine then in Sabina, where the bond with the earth is still solid, and as a result what the earth has to offer is celebrated. When, of course, the land itself decides.

The Leonessa Potato Festival, in October

This is what is clearly evident in the Leonessa Potato Festival, which takes place during the period of harvesting, as indicated by the regulations established by the Municipal Denomination mark of which the Leonessa tuber boasts, and therefore it is organized yearly in October.

The motto of the event, “Fritta, lessa, rescallata. Un piattu co’ li fiocchi: lu tartufu co’ li gnocchi” (Fried, boiled, rescallata. A dish will all the trimmings: truffles and gnocchi), reveals some of the dishes that can be tasted, ranging from French fries, the joy of children, adults and the elderly, to gnocchi sprinkled with local truffles to the ‘rescallata’, the divine potato sauté with Sabina DOP EVO olive oil, onion, and bacon strips.

About an hour and a half away from Cicignano, on a path that seems to follow the border between Umbria and Lazio, a paradise for food lovers: let’s not forget that potatoes are also the basic ingredient for delicious donuts.

An event not to be missed, a break from the relaxation of the countryside and the village of Cicignano, for an appointment awaited throughout Central Italy. Continue reading “In Sabina, Lazio, celebrations and festivals for all tastes!” →

One of the strengths, perhaps the main charm of bicycles is constituted by fatigue, by a certain effort, beyond one’s limits, which allows us to achieve unexpected goals. An effort that keeps us in shape, and that gives us a fulfilling satisfaction. However, fatigue is not for everyone. Today, we’d like to talk not only to those of you who are a bit lazy, but also all those who would like to go cycling and sightseeing; to look around, and to reach places which, on foot, would be simply out of reach. So, yes we’re talking about an electric bike, better known as an e-bike, and where to use it to discover the Sabina area. The place of departure is of course, the Residenze del Borgo di Cicignano!

A little clarification

A little caveat here is necessary: e-bikes, electric bicycles, also known as pedal-assisted bicycles, are not mopeds. Their engine operates to assist the pedalling, hence their name, and therefore it will not be possible to travel without moving a muscle! It is thus necessary to understand well the nature of the route that you are going to face, and therefore a bicycle that is normally used in the city, in the home-office itinerary, risks not being appropriate on dirt trails. As a result, an e-MTB, an electric mountain bike may be necessary. Which, if at first glance, could represent a considerable initial expense, however it can also be rented. The destinations we are talking about today can also be used with this type of vehicle. Continue reading “E-bike: the Sabina routes on an electric bike” →

The traditional olive harvest in Sabina takes place between the beginning of October and the end of January. It’s a choral event, that involves everyone, given how much the final product, extra virgin olive oil, is important to the local economy and culture. It thus represents a celebration, which can suggest a calendar page that is often not considered sufficiently with regard to a holiday in our area.

DOP (Protected Geographic Location) extra virgin olive oil, a Sabina excellence  

Sabina virgin olive oil is a genuine, traditional product, which has always been made in Sabina since ancient times. The Romans knew it well and considered it amongst the best in the world. Today the techniques are refined, while scientific knowledge highlights its organoleptic properties and the characteristics that make it an ally of our health.
Continue reading “In Sabina, in the region of Lazio, for the traditional olive harvest” →

The Rieti plain is known, to both believers and non-believers, as the Holy Valley. This appellation is due to the inseparable link with the figure of St. Francis of Assisi, who loved these places in a profound and sincere way, crossing them on numerous journeys and peregrinations, so much so as to make them almost a third homeland, next to the Sanctuary of La Verna in Arezzo and in Assisi itself.

The four Franciscan sanctuaries

The signs of Francis’ passage can be seen by the four Franciscan sanctuaries erected in the valley, located in areas where the traces of the saint are most alive and felt, where important events in his life and his faith have taken place. United by ideal lines on the map, they draw, in a very evocative way, a cross.

Thus, we have the Poggio Bustone Sanctuary, the first arrival point, in the Holy Valley, for Francis and his companions. That of Fonte Colombo, site of the eye operation, theater of the saint’s miraculous resistance in front of and under the boiling cautery. But also, of the compiling of the Franciscan Rule, to regulate the life and works of Franciscans from all over the world. Greccio, ideal scenery, with its simple and suggestive landscape, for the representation of the Nativity, the first manger of Christianity.
Continue reading “The ‘Via di Francesco’ in Sabina. In the saint’s footsteps in the Santa Reatina Valley” →

Mountain enthusiasts, here in our Sabina region, will have plenty of fun. And after relaxing at Le Residenze del Borgo, you’ll certainly be ready to get back on the move.

Mountains are fascinating in winter, when, covered with soft snow, they allow for adrenaline-filled winter sports. But they are also irresistible during the rest of the year; the autumn foliage, the spring blooms, the cool summer breeze. With views reaching as far as the horizon; the farther away, the less haze there is.

In this idyllic setting, it is all too easy to imagine yourself on an excursion, on a trekking path, that allows you to reach the Sabine peaks. Today we propose two scenarios for trekkers, and we start from one that is found within the Sabine Mountains.

A circular route between Monte Tancia and Monte Pizzuto

Monte Tancia and Monte Pizzuto are the first of the Sabine Mountains in terms of height, measuring respectively 1292 and 1288 meters. This small massif, ranging roughly 30 kilometers long, an integral part of the Lazio Apennines, fading south into the Lucretili Mountains, faces the Rieti plain to the east and the Tiber Valley to the west. Here, you’ll find some breathtaking panoramas that you will most certainly admire.
Continue reading “Mountain lovers? Two unmissable itineraries in the Sabina region” →

A holiday in Sabina wouldn’t be complete without a horseback ride. Because these magnificent and tame animals allow visitors to enjoy greater distances than simply on foot, significantly changing perspective, observing and admiring the surroundings, even from a higher view. And being in contact with the horses allows you to feel even closer to the wonders that Nature can offer and being in touch with it becomes even more solid.

Horseback riding, a bonus for your health

There are numerous health benefits that horseback riding has to offer. Indeed, because perhaps it’s the layman that thinks the horse bears all the fatigue, in addition to the weight of the person riding. However, the rider stimulates, even during a simple ride, a multitude of muscles, ranging from the leg to the abdominal area, including the buttocks and arms.

As the horse’s speed increases, the heartbeats increase in parallel, and therefore the cardiovascular system also benefits, resulting in a consumption of calories. Concentration and balance increase, as wells as memory, the perception of one’s body in space and reflexes.
Continue reading “Strolling through the Sabina region: walking, galloping, trotting… on a horse!” →

When organizing a holiday in Sabina, it is not easy to find yourself short of ideas regarding what to do and what to see. This time we’d like to tell you about a very particular place, wrapped in history that fades into legend and mystery, whose allure is a result of it being in the bowels of the mountain, and by stories regarding it that are not too well known and therefore susceptible to give rise to enigmas, not (yet?) confirmed by anestablished truth. The Soratte Bunker awaits you, just half an hour’s drive from Cicignano.

An underground bunker looks like the motif of a science fiction novel or war movie. But, as we know, scripts and the intertwining of books originate in the mind of a man, and the mind of a man originated the idea of the need for an underground bunker. Thus, at the behest of Benito Mussolini in 1937, the construction of tunnels in the bowels of the mountain began at Monte Soratte, with the aim of protecting him in the event of an air attack.

Winds of war in 1930s Europe

Very threatening winds of war blew in Europe in the Thirties made up of totalitarianisms and nationalisms, whereby France and Great Britain’s timid diplomatic efforts proved to be quite ineffective in contrasting Hitler’s initiatives.
Continue reading “Ideas for a day in Sabina: the Soratte Bunker” →

So here we are. Holidays are just around the corner. And for parents as well. Tired, stressed, a year spent taking care of the little ones, not to mention work, necessary to feed them. Choosing the holiday destination should be a period of joy. Nevertheless, some manage to find a cause for concern in this as well.

The choice of the family holiday destination

Indeed, because there are numerous issues, and all with their particular relevance. Children need to have fun, and not be bored, otherwise the holiday can be ruined by whims and complaints. Yet the road to an enjoyable vacation doesn’t necessarily have to lead to an amusement park, resulting in only them having fun. Therefore, an indispensable compromise needs to be found. It certainly does not mean having to bow down to tyrannical children, but also trying to reconcile their tastes and interests, in what must be a family holiday, in which bonds are strengthened and where time to spend together is finally found. Without harassing phone calls, without work shifts, without guitar lessons.

Continue reading “Parents and children, decide the holidays together” →