Greccio

Sister cities

• Guardea
• Bethlehem
• San Donato Val di Comino

History

Modern Greccio, which is of medieval origin, was founded on lands of ancient Greek colonization, in a place where there was, They had fled or were exiled from their homeland as a result of war. From the remains of the ancient buildings, it shows that Greccio became a fortified medieval castle surrounded by walls and protected by a six towers fortress. and its creation is described by Saint Bonaventure in his Life of Saint Francis of Assisi c. 1260. Saint Francis' manger scene is said to have been enacted at Christmas 1223 in a cave near the Sanctuary of Greccio. The very small chapel where it is said to have taken place survives. The painting over its altar, and others before 1400, by Giotto at the Assisi Lower Church, and by Antonio Vite in Pistoia, depict Saint Francis kneeling and placing a small baby into a chest-like manger. Giotto adds a miniature ox and ass. The Nativity scene tradition continues there to this day, and a memorial of Saint Francis, the Sanctuary of Greccio, may be visited.

Geography

The town of Greccio is located in Sabina, in Upper Lazio, on the border with Umbria. The medieval town of Greccio stands on a ridge of the Monti Sabini, on the western edge of the Rieti Valley, at above sea level (about higher than the valley floor). The flat part of the town territory extends into the underlying Rieti Valley and includes the frazioni of Spinacceto, Limiti di Greccio (where the town hall is located) and Sellecchia. * From Contigliano: ; * Rieti: ; * Terni: ; * L'Aquila: ; * Rome: .