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Poggio San Lorenzo in Sabina: the village built on top of the ancient Roman walls on the Salt Road
Poggio San Lorenzo stands on a hilly ridge in the upper Farfa River basin, 20 km from Rieti. What strikes visitors upon their arrival is the perimeter of the walls and their round arches, built using the opus reticulatum technique. This is evidence of a Roman-era castrum (fortified camp) that monitored traffic along the Via Salaria (the Salt Road). The medieval village, built directly on top of and within these structures, remains inhabited to this day.
A town built on history
On the main street, a 17th-century (olive) oil mill, now a museum, tells the story of four centuries of Sabina olive oil production. The Church of San Lorenzo (St Lawrence), rebuilt in 1780 on 16th-century foundations, houses two late-16th-century canvases, including the Martyrdom of St Lawrence, and a tomb bearing the inscription Caius Rufus. According to local tradition, the village's name dates back to the 4th century, when St Emidius preached the martyrdom of St Lawrence there.
Outside the centre: holm oaks, wildlife, and pilgrims
In the Valle Gemma area, near traces believed by historians to be the Baths of Emperor Titus, there is an ancient holm oak that locals claim is the largest in Europe. Since 1980, the Piano dell'Abatino Wildlife Park has provided care for both native and exotic wild animals. The village is also a key stop-off point on the Way of Saint Francis (Cammino di San Francesco), a 21.8 km stretch from Rieti, and features a Pilgrim's House.
