Monte Croci and the Sanctuary of San Francesco da Greccio

Moderately challenging itinerary that you can follow with any level of training, taking the right breaks.

The starting point is Greccio, reachable by car from nearby Rieti or by train and shuttle from the homonymous stop on the Terni-L'Aquila line.

From the village of Greccio, where I suggest you stop and stroll, walk along a stretch of the main road towards the sanctuary. A few meters from the village on the left a wooden sign indicates the beginning of the route towards Monte Croci. This first section is the most demanding of the day, in fact you go up the mountain ridge with a winding path in the woods.

After this stretch, the remaining part of the itinerary continues along the ridge passing first through Monte Croci, whose peak is hidden in the vegetation, then through the Chapel of San Francesco, which you reach by deviating a few meters from the main path. Here I suggest you take a break and enjoy the landscape and the quiet of the place.

Still on the ridge, the path continues through a spectacular beech forest until it reaches Piani di Ruschio, a large grassy clearing at an altitude of 900 metres. From here, follow the dirt path to the right which will take you to a very steep concrete descent which ends at the detour to the Sanctuary. The detour, round trip, is about a kilometer but I advise you to do it, given the beauty of the place.

A gently descending path halfway up the slope and a short stretch on the paved road takes you back to Greccio.

In the center of the village you will find a beautiful fountain where you can fill your water bottle before tackling your excursion, while on your return the bars in the square offer you a pleasant refreshment.