Discover Greccio

Greccio is a comune of about 1,436 people in the province of Rieti, in Lazio — an old hill town overhanging the Rieti valley on a spur of the Monti Sabini, a sub-range of the Apennines, about 16 kilometres by road north-west of Rieti, the nearest large town.

It is known above all for two connected things: it hosts a sanctuary founded by Saint Francis, and it is the place where Francis invented the nativity scene. In December 1223 he devised the first living presepe here, and the tradition continues in the town to this day. A memorial of Saint Francis, the Sanctuary of Greccio, may be visited.

It forms part of the Cammino di Francesco, the Franciscan walking route, and since 2016 it has been a member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia.

The comune is split vertically. The historic centre stands at 705 metres above sea level, roughly 300 metres higher than the valley floor, where the frazioni of Spinacceto, Limiti di Greccio — the seat of the town hall — and Sellecchia lie.

And it is high and cold by the standards of this region: climate zone E, with 2,508 degree-days.

Why is Greccio famous? Because Saint Francis of Assisi devised the first living nativity scene here, in December 1223.

Who helped him? Giovanni Velita, lord of Greccio. Francis was hosted in the town more than once between 1223 and 1226.

Does the tradition still happen? Yes — the nativity scene tradition continues in the town to this day.

Can I visit the sanctuary? Yes. A memorial of Saint Francis, the Sanctuary of Greccio, may be visited.

Where does the name come from? Two competing explanations. Tradition says a Greek colony or family settled here after fleeing wars — hence Grecia, Grece, Grecce, Greccio. Scholarship reads the medieval curtis de greze as curtis, a self-sufficient estate run by a lord, plus greze or grezze, quarry crushed stone. On that reading the name has nothing to do with Greek colonists.

What was the crushed stone for? Roads across the Rieti plain, which was marshy after the reclamation begun by Curius Dentatus. It was quarried below the present square and carted down.

When is it first documented? The first certain notices are from the tenth and eleventh centuries; the Benedictine monk Gregorio da Catino (1062–1133) refers to curte de Greccia in his Regesto Farfense.

Was there a castle? Yes — a fortified medieval castle surrounded by walls and protected by six fortified towers, destroyed by the soldiery of Frederick II in 1242.

How high is it? The historic centre is at 705 metres, about 300 metres above the valley floor where the frazioni and the town hall are.

How cold is it? Climate zone E with 2,508 degree-days — the coldest comune in this Lazio set.

How do I get there? About 16 kilometres by road north-west of Rieti. Rome is 96 kilometres away.

Is it one of the official "most beautiful villages"? Yes, since 2016.