Rieti in brief
Rieti lies on the river Velino. The old town keeps the remains of a Roman bridge next to a modern crossing, and the town offers an underground visit, Rieti Sotterranea. It is also the gateway to the Sacred Valley, a loop that links Franciscan sanctuaries, and the starting point for Monte Terminillo.
For Lago del Salto, Rieti is the practical base: the Strada Cicolana runs about 20 km from Rieti to the lake. If you would rather not drive, the page on day trips from Rome explains the options, and the page on Petrella Salto and the Cicolano covers the lake villages.
What to see in Rieti
A walkable old town and one tour underground.
The Velino and the Roman bridge
Start at the river. The old town spreads along the Velino, and the remains of the Roman bridge sit beside a modern crossing. The tour of underground Rieti meets at Piazza Cavour, next to the bridge remains.
The cathedral
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta is the starting point of the Valle Santa variant, at the statue of Saint Francis. Interior opening times, access to the crypt and any entry fee can change, so check locally before you plan around them.
Rieti Sotterranea
The guided visit meets at Piazza Cavour at the sign for Rieti Sotterranea. Public visits cost €10 per person (2026) and run on Saturday at 11:00 and 18:00 and on Sunday at 11:00. It lasts about 1.5 hours and you reserve through the organiser. There is no daily tour, so book your date ahead. Groups should ask for their own terms.
Earthquake repairs
Reconstruction after the 2016 earthquake is still going on across the Lazio area. That does not mean that every church in town is closed, but check individual buildings before you travel.
Our pick: museum circuit in Rieti
The combined ticket is the simple way to see several sites in Rieti, but oratory and theatre open only in the slots you reserve.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours and day trips from Rieti
Guided visits, lake trips and day trips around Rieti, Lago del Salto and Lago del Turano, with live prices and availability.
The Sacred Valley and the Way of Saint Francis
The Valle Santa is a loop that links Rieti with four Franciscan sanctuaries: Greccio, Fonte Colombo, Poggio Bustone and La Foresta. It follows a Christian pilgrimage tradition. Do not confuse it with the long route from Rome to Assisi: the Valle Santa is a regional loop.
The one stage with figures is the variant from Rieti by way of Fonte Colombo to Greccio: 23.4 km, about 8 hours 30 minutes, medium difficulty. It starts at the Saint Francis statue by the cathedral. This is a full walking day, not a short tour of all the sanctuaries, and you cannot see all four in half a day. Check opening times at each sanctuary before you go.
Rieti as a base for the lakes and the mountain
Rieti is on the rail line Terni to Rieti to L'Aquila. In the 2026 timetable (valid 14 June to 12 December), a direct train runs from Rieti to Roma Tiburtina at 06:12, arriving at 07:59 (train 4256), with some calendar limits, and a weekday train to Terni at 09:11, arriving at 09:52. Works can change the plan, so check before you travel. The regional bus company also links Roma Tiburtina and Rieti.
From the station, bus line 513 serves Monte Terminillo, and the road to the mountain follows the SS 4 bis. The details are on the page for Monte Terminillo. There is no regular shuttle between Rieti and the beaches, but the on-demand ChiamaBus runs Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 19:00, not on public holidays. For the full journey from Rome see getting there.
Rieti plans compared
What each option asks of your day.
| Plan | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Old town on foot | A few hours | Start at the Velino and the Roman bridge |
| Rieti Sotterranea | About 1.5 hours | Sat 11:00 and 18:00, Sun 11:00, reserve ahead |
| Valle Santa variant | About 8.5 hours | 23.4 km, medium difficulty, ends in Greccio |
| Lago del Salto | A day | About 20 km on the Strada Cicolana |
| Monte Terminillo | A day | Bus 513 or SS 4 bis |
For most visitors, a good plan is half a day in the old town with the Sotterranea tour on a weekend, then a second day at the lake.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where to go from Rieti.
Rieti: frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Rieti?
The old town on the Velino with the remains of the Roman bridge, the cathedral and the underground tour, Rieti Sotterranea. The Sacred Valley route to the Franciscan sanctuaries starts here.
How much is the Rieti Sotterranea tour?
Public visits cost €10 per person (2026). They run on Saturday at 11:00 and 18:00 and on Sunday at 11:00, last about 1.5 hours and must be reserved.
Is there a direct train from Rome to Rieti?
A through connection runs between Rieti and Roma Tiburtina, with limits on certain days and works. Check the day you travel. The bus is another option.
Can I visit all four Franciscan sanctuaries in one day?
No. The one stage with figures, from Rieti to Greccio by way of Fonte Colombo, is 23.4 km and about 8 hours 30 minutes. Plan more time for the full Sacred Valley loop.
Is this the official website of Rieti?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the city, the Lazio region or the lake operator, and it is not connected to any tour operator or hotel.