The Sabina

With its breathtaking regional capital of Rieti, on the banks of the river Velino, and with literally dozens of walled Medieval hilltop towns, including Casperia, Sant'Oreste, Ponzano Romano and Torri in Sabina, the Sabina region is simply brimming with some of the most beautiful cities and towns you'll find anywhere in Italy!

The river Tiber winds its way through the length and breadth of the beautiful Sabina, a land of vast expanses of mountain ranges and valleys, in which fields filled with olive groves, fruit trees, grape vines and brightly coloured flowers vie  for attention in the temperate climate, framed by the snow capped peaks of the mountains beyond; a literal garden of Eden located just a few moments drive from the autostrada and less than an hour from the heart of Rome!

The Sabina is home to some of the finest olive oil in all the world, the perfect compliment to the area's vast array of regional pastas, dried, smoked and fresh meats and cheeses, home grown fruit and vegetables, freshly baked breads and pastries and locally made wines and spirits!

Carnivale, Opera, Theatre, Classical Music Festivals and Jazz Festivals, Festivals to celebrate the Saints and the Heroes, and Festivals to Celebrate the region's glorious locally produced food and wine; there's always something worth celebrating when you're visiting the Sabina!

From the magnificently frescoed dome of the Theatre Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti to the Basilica Santa Maria in Farfa, with its vast array of ancient frescoes and marble statuary, to the 9th century frescoes on Monte Soratte depicting San Silvestre, the Sabina is utterly awash with some of Italy's most glorious art, frescoes and sculpture, dating from Etruscan and ancient Roman times to the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods and the 19th century!

And from the breathtakingly beautiful 19th  century Theatre Flavio Vespasiano, located in the regional capital of Rieti, to the incredible 10th century Hermitage of San Cataldo, built into the side of Monte Calvo on the outskirts of the ancient town of Cottanello, the Sabina is also home to much of Italy's most truly extraordinary architecture! 

Along with the ancient Roman amphitheater at Trebula Mutuesca, the Sabina was once dotted with dozens of large and luxurious ancient Roman villas, and of these the remains have so far been uncovered of at least fifteen. The most famous of these is located in the town of Vacone and is widely believed to have originally belonged to the poet Horace, whilst among the others to have so far been uncovered are Villa Tulliano in Cantalupo and Villa Cottanello in the town of the same name!