Stage 5: Poggio Bustone - Rieti

The stage winds along the Valle Santa Reatina. among impressive panoramic views. towards Rieti, the capital of Sabina. On the route, lies the village of Cantalice, an amazing pyramid of houses climbing up the hill. The itinerary continues towards the famous Sanctuary of San Felice all'Acqua, where, according to legend, the first Saint of the Capuchin Order made water flow from a rock to quench the thirsty shepherds and farmers. Proceeding through the woods, we reach the Sanctuary of the Forest, where San Francesco d’ Assisi retreated while waiting to undergo an eye operation. Finally, the route arrives in in Rieti, an ancient town preserving monuments from the Roman era, such as the bridge over the Velino River and an underground stretch of the ancient Via Salaria. The historic centre, surrounded by medieval walls, hosts the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and its crypt, where San Francesco stopped to pray during his travels through the Valle Santa.