Itinerary 1
Strolling among sanctuaries, abbeys and ghost castles
Farfa Abbey – Vescovio Sanctuary – The Rocchette and Rocchettine Twin fortresses
You cannot say that you have really been to Sabina if you have not visited the ancient religious and cultural heart of this territory : the famous Benedictine Abbey of Farfa and its library. And you mustn’t skip trying the fried pizza that you can nibble on while taking a stroll in the small and characteristic village of Farfa.
To continue the day, take a trip to the Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Vescovio in the municipality of Torri in Sabina (RI), an example of Romanesque architecture, considered one of the most famous and illustrious monuments in the Sabina area.
If you are with your children, bring a blanket and a ball: the lawn in front of the Sanctuary is ideal for an impromptu picnic.
And finally, a touch of mysticism with the guided tour of the twin fortresses of Rocchette and Rocchettine. While the former is still inhabited and a village has developed around it, Rocchettine today is a ghost fortress of incredible charm. You can find these in the town of Torri in Sabina as well.
Itinerary 2
A mix of historic villages, nature and culture
Castelnuovo di Farfa – Sabina Oil Museum – Farfa Gorges
Discover the symbol of Sabina: olive oil! Visit the Sabina Olive Oil Museum in Castelnuovo di Farfa and get ready for a special guided tour, not at all obvious and boring. Take the opportunity to take a tour of Castelnuovo di Farfa, one of the most charming villages in the Bassa Sabina , particularly well-kept and flowered, particularly during the Floral event that takes place every year in June: a competition for the most beautiful floral decoration, a fight with no holds barred that sees the streets of the town competing with each other.
And then take a trip to the Natural Monument of the Farfa Gorges, a luxuriant and protected corner of Sabina for its naturalistic peculiarities. Don’t forget a good pair of sneakers or hiking shoes for this little hike!
Itinerary 3
When nature and history merge
Mount Soratte – Soratte’s Hermitages – Soratte Bunker
The Soratte and its Nature Reserve offer you the opportunity to wander amongst walking paths between magical hermitages and peaceful woods or to immerse yourself in one of Italy’s most fascinating stories.
The Soratte bunker, in the municipality of Sant’Oreste in the province of Rome – on the other bank of the Tiber – was literally dug inside the mountain at the behest of Benito Mussolini.
The system of tunnels that runs inside was aimed at serving as an air-raid shelter for the leaders of the Italian Army. It actually became a refuge for Nazi troops and was transformed into a nuclear fallout shelter during the Cold War.
The Soratte Bunker can be visited by booking in advance. The guided tour lasts roughly 2 hours.
Itinerary 4
Trekking on the Sabine Mountains
The Tancia Tavern – Mount Tancia – Mount Pizzuto
Among the Sabine Mountains, the most famous and beaten by trekking and mountain bike enthusiasts are the Tancia and the Pizzuto. They will probably not impress you as a result of their height: a scarce 1,300 metres, they look more like huge hills than actual mountains. But they are always an excellent destination for light trekking excursion and a relaxing day among the peaks and wonderful beech woods where, especially in autumn, you can “swim” in a sea of leaves.
A recommended starting point for trekking is from the old Tancia Tavern – today known as the Tancia Hostel House – in the municipality of Mount San Giovanni (Rieti). If you are not particularly athletic but would like to take a ride up there, you can also rent e-bikes in Poggio Mirteto.
Itinerary 5
Trekking on the Reatini Mountains and lunch in the refuge
Mount Terminillo – Massimo Rinaldi Refuge – Angelo Sebastiani Refuge
In Rieti, just over an hour from Cicignano, you can take on more challenging trekking routes. Terminillo, the highest peak of the Reatini Mountains , which reaches 2,216 meters in height and is loved by mountain enthusiasts both in summer and in winter, allows you to test yourself climbing a mountaineering route.
For those who are less adventurous, the Terminillo is still an excellent destination for a lunch in a refuge, where you can eat polenta and arrosticini, and for a leisurely walk among its beech woods.
Itinerario 6
On horseback on the Sabina Tiberina paths
Sabina Horse Trail from Casperia
A few years ago, 15 new routes were launched in the Cicignano and Sabina Tiberina areas. On the Sabina Tiberina trail map, there are over 500 km of trails that can be travelled on foot, bicycle or horseback.
The Sabina horse trail is an easy ring-shaped trail to visit on horseback; 24 km long that starts from Casperia (reachable by car from Cicignano in 20 minutes).
