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The La Foresta Sanctuary is one of the four sanctuaries of the Rieti Holy Valley, alongside those of Greccio, Fonte Colombo and Poggio Bustone. Enveloped in a charming atmosphere , this small religious complex is closely linked to the figure of St Francis, who found refuge there in 1225, resting and staying out of sight of the faithful.
It is said that the saint wrote the “Canticle of the Creatures” here, and that he miraculously produced wine from a vineyard that had been devastated by the crowds of worshippers who had flocked to see him. The religious complex was built around the 13th-century church of St Fabian, which features a 14th-century portico and a number of 16th-century frescoes in the apse and on the back wall. It was extended in the 17th century, with the construction of the adjoining church of Santa Maria della Foresta (St Mary of the Forest). The saint’s dwelling and the grape-pressing trough are located in a small 15th-century cloister. Beneath the cloister lies the cave where, according to legend, the saint would retreat to pray.
