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The Belvedere of Piazza Mareri in Ascrea: a Terrace Suspended Over Lake Turano
Piazza Mareri in Ascrea is a natural balcony 757 metres above sea level, overlooking Lake Turano and the Navegna and Cervia Mountains Reserve, in the Sabina area of Rieti. The village — with just over 200 inhabitants and stone houses clinging to the slope — has existed since the Middle Ages, but it is from the square that one can see why it is worth the detour: the view looks straight onto the green waters of the lake, and stretches to the peaks of the Apennines.
A Village Born out of Brigands
Ascrea first saw the light of day between the 11th and 14th centuries, when the inhabitants of the villages of Bulgaretta and Mirandella abandoned the valley floor. In 1440 the fief passed from the Collalto to the Mareri family — giving their name to the square — and for a few decades the village became a den of brigands on the road between Rieti and the Kingdom of Naples. In 1568 Pope Pius V ordered the destruction of the castle. In 1615 Muzio Mareri was sentenced to death, and the fiefs confiscated. A turbulent history, which can still be seen in the disorderly layout of the village: no regular grid, just alleyways and small staircases between the houses.
What to Do Here
From the square, climbing the steps towards the Church of San Nicola di Bari (St Nicholas of Bari) — with its 16th-century frescoes and canvases — one reaches a second lookout, with a view of Castel di Tora and Colle di Tora. From here, trails leave for Monte Navegna and the Cascate delle Vallocchie. Bathing is possible in the lake in the summer, with beaches reachable in a few minutes by car.
