Rieti is one of those Italian cities that travellers tend to speed past on their way from Rome to the Marche or Abruzzo. That is a mistake. The city and its surroundings pack an extraordinary variety of things to see and do — Romanesque churches, Roman ruins, a lake, a 165-metre waterfall, a high-altitude plain famous for wildflowers and lentils, and mountain trails that lead to the highest peaks of the central Apennines.
Here is your complete list of the best things to do in Rieti and the immediate region.
1. Stand at the Geographical Centre of Italy
Start at Piazza San Rufo, a small, unassuming square in the historic centre. On the ground, set into the cobblestones, is a marble stone marked with a compass rose and the inscription "Centro d'Italia" — the exact geographical centre of the Italian peninsula. It is not touristy, not commercial, just quietly there. Stand on it for a photo that actually means something, and then sit at one of the cafés overlooking the piazza to absorb the fact that you are literally at the centre of everything.
Nearby, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is Rieti's main square — a wide, elegant space dominated by a 19th-century fountain and overlooked by the Palazzo Comunale (town hall). The square has a relaxed, lived-in feel. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, it hosts a lively market selling local produce, clothing, and household goods.
2. Explore the Duomo di Rieti and Its Crypt
The Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, Rieti's Duomo, is a 12th-century Romanesque basilica that was heavily remodelled in the Baroque period. The exterior is a study in restrained elegance — a tall Romanesque campanile with mullioned windows, a simple rose window, and a portico with ancient columns salvaged from earlier Roman buildings.
Inside, the main attraction is the 13th-century crypt, one of the finest in Lazio. It is a small, atmospheric space supported by slender columns with cosmatesque inlaid marble — intricate geometric patterns in porphyry, serpentine, and white marble that create a mesmerising floor. The crypt also contains fragments of medieval frescoes and a silver reliquary said to hold relics of Saint Barbara. Admission is free, and the crypt is usually open during church hours (8:00-12:00 and 16:00-19:00).
Adjacent to the Duomo, the Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop's Palace) houses the Diocesan Museum, with a collection of sacred art, vestments, illuminated manuscripts, and wooden sculptures from the 13th to 18th centuries.
3. Visit the Museo Civico
Rieti's city museum is housed in the Palazzo Comunale on the main square. The collection covers the entire history of human settlement in the area, from prehistoric tools through Sabine pottery and Roman artefacts to medieval and Renaissance works. The highlight is the Mosaico di Reate, a Roman geometric floor mosaic discovered during excavations in the 19th century — intricate interlocking patterns in black, white, and terracotta that once decorated a Roman villa.
The museum also displays a fascinating collection of Sabine inscriptions and funerary objects, offering insight into the civilisation that founded Rieti long before Rome expanded into the region. Allow at least one hour.
4. Walk the Remains of the Roman Bridge
Just a few minutes' walk from the historic centre, the Ponte Romano spans the Velino River with only its central arch and a few stone piers still intact. It is a fragmentary but evocative ruin — enough survives to imagine the original scale, and the setting is quietly beautiful, with the river flowing over smooth stones and willows arching overhead.
From the bridge, a path follows the riverbank downstream through a green corridor of poplars and fields. It is a lovely 15-minute walk that connects the Roman bridge to the modern pedestrian bridge near the sports centre.
5. Discover Lake Piediluco
Fifteen kilometres east of Rieti, Lake Piediluco is one of central Italy's most beautiful smaller lakes. Surrounded by wooded hills and protected within the Lago di Piediluco Nature Reserve, it is a designated Site of Community Importance for its aquatic habitats and birdlife.
The lake is famous for rowing — Italy's national rowing team trains here, and several international competitions are held on its calm waters. You can rent a rowing boat or canoe from the lakeside club, swim from designated beaches, or simply walk the 6-kilometre trail that circles the lake through oak and beech woodland.
The village of Piediluco itself is a cluster of stone houses around a small piazza, with a handful of restaurants serving freshwater fish dishes. On summer evenings, the lakefront is idyllic.
6. Marvel at the Cascata delle Marmore
Twenty kilometres east of Rieti, just over the Umbrian border near Terni, the Cascata delle Marmore is one of Italy's most extraordinary natural — or, more accurately, engineered — wonders. At 165 metres over three tiers, it ranks among the tallest man-made waterfalls in Europe.
The waterfall was created by the ancient Romans in 271 BC. The problem: the Velino River emptied into the Nera River near Terni, frequently flooding the area. The Roman consul Manius Curius Dentatus ordered a canal cut through the Marmore rock to divert the water, creating the waterfall as a by-product. It has been modified several times since, most recently in the 18th century, and the flow is still regulated by a hydroelectric plant.
The falls are surrounded by the Parco delle Marmore, a network of walking trails, viewing platforms, and picnic areas. The best views are from the Belvedere Superiore (upper viewpoint) and the Balcone degli Innamorati (Lovers' Balcony), where you feel the spray on your face. On summer weekends, the falls are floodlit at night — a breathtaking spectacle. Entry costs about €10, and the park is open daily from April to October, with reduced winter hours.
7. Drive to the Piano Grande di Castelluccio
Chi Siamo 50 kilometres east of Rieti — a winding but scenic drive through the Monti Reatini — the Piano Grande di Castelluccio sits at 1,300 metres above sea level. This vast karst plain is one of Italy's most unusual landscapes: a flat, treeless expanse ringed by limestone peaks, covered in a patchwork of lentil fields and wildflower meadows.
The plain is best known for la fioritura — the wildflower bloom that transforms it into a riot of colour from late May through mid-July. Red poppies, yellow rapeseed, blue cornflowers, purple clover — it is a photographer's dream. At other times of year, the plain is no less beautiful: golden in autumn under the harvest sun, white and silent in winter under snow.
The tiny village of Castelluccio, perched on a hill at the edge of the plain, is the base for exploring. Visit the church of Santa Maria dell'Assunta, buy a bag of lentils from a local producer, and eat lunch at Ristorante Il Piano with views across the plain.
8. Bathe at the Terme di Cotilia
Just south of Rieti near Cittaducale, the Terme di Cotilia is an ancient Roman spa complex that has been in use for over two millennia. The thermal waters — rich in sulphur, calcium, and bicarbonate — emerge at around 23°C and were already celebrated in Roman times for their therapeutic properties.
The archaeological site includes the remains of a Roman nymphaeum (a monumental fountain dedicated to nymphs), thermal baths, and the so-called "Piscina di Cleopatra" — a large pool carved into the travertine rock. The modern spa facility adjacent to the ruins offers thermal bathing, mud treatments, and wellness packages.
9. Experience the Palio di Rieti
If you can time your visit to coincide with the Palio di Rieti, usually held on the first or second weekend of September, you will witness the city at its most vibrant. The Palio is a historical horse race through the streets of the centro storico, but it is also a full weekend of medieval pageantry — flag wavers in period costume, musicians, processions, and a sprawling market.
The race itself is a raw, thrilling affair: bareback horses charging along a course lined with spectators. The atmosphere is electric, the pride genuine. Tickets for the grandstand are available from the tourist office on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, or you can watch from the barriers for free.
10. Hike the Monti Reatini and Monte Terminillo
The mountains that form the eastern boundary of the Rieti basin are part of the central Apennines. Monte Terminillo (2,217 metres) is the highest and most accessible peak, about 30 minutes north of Rieti by car. In winter, it is one of Lazio's only ski destinations with reliable snow cover. In summer, it offers hiking trails for all levels.
The classic route to the summit starts from Campo Fornace (1,600 m) and takes 3-4 hours return via the Sentiero Naturalistico. The trail is well-marked and passes through beech forest, alpine meadows, and finally scree slopes to the summit cross. From the top, the view extends across the Rieti valley to the Tyrrhenian Sea on clear days.
For shorter walks, the Valle del Velino path between Rieti and Piediluco offers gentle riverside walking suitable for families.
Plan Your Visit
With its combination of historic city centre, lake, waterfall, mountain hiking, and high-plain wildflowers, Rieti offers more variety than many cities ten times its size. The key is to give yourself time: three days is the ideal minimum to cover the city, the lake, the Marmore Falls, and at least one mountain excursion.
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