Greccio: Nativity tradition, Santuario and medieval townscape
Accommodation in Greccio
Greccio combines a strong nativity tradition with a fortified medieval townscape, sacred art and experiences in the surrounding landscape. This makes it a destination where culture, pilgrimage history and trails through nature come together in a special way. When choosing your accommodation, the distance to the respective points of interest is a useful planning consideration: the Santuario and the historic centre are not in the same location.
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Photo: Randy OHC from West Park, New York, USA via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Nativity tradition and Santuario
The original core of the Santuario Francescano del Presepio is the Cappella del Presepio, built in the grotto in 1228. In this grotto, Saint Francis of Assisi had the birth of Jesus depicted for the first time on Christmas night in 1223. The Santuario Francescano del Presepio is located two kilometres from the town on a rocky cliff dominated by a dense forest of centuries-old holm oaks and overlooking the green Conca reatina.
The Cappella del Presepio contains a fresco from the Giotto school. In two scenes, it depicts the Presepio di Greccio and the Nativity in Bethlehem, as well as the nursing Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus. At the Santuario, religious history, visual representation and Greccio's characteristic nativity tradition thus come together directly.
Historic centre and sacred buildings
The Museo Internazionale del Presepe is located 200 metres from the historic centre of Greccio. It was created through the restoration of historic buildings, including the former 13th-century church of Santa Maria. Its reopening following renovation and expansion was announced in November 2025.
The townscape itself also reaches far back into history. The historic centre preserves the structure of a fortified medieval castrum dating from the 11th century; the castle is still visible. The Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Michele Arcangelo also dates from the 11th century. The Chiesa della Madonna del Giglio is a Baroque church richly decorated with precious stucco work; it has been closed for worship since the 2016 earthquake.
Trails through landscape and spirituality
The Cammino di Francesco connects these places and the valley surrounding them along a route that follows in the footsteps of Saint Francis. It passes through ancient hermitages, valleys and unspoilt forests. The Greccio area also has a 20-kilometre network of trails through unspoilt nature. The Artists Path leads to a memorial chapel containing the stone on which Saint Francis stood when he preached to the people of Greccio.
Greccio at Christmas
Greccio is associated with a historical re-enactment of the Nativity in Greccio, staged every year at Christmas since 1972. The 2026/2027 edition includes “Greccio... il Presepio”, the 28th exhibition and market for handicrafts and objects related to the nativity scene. The event represents artistic craftsmanship and nativity tradition and brings Greccio to life during the Christmas season.
Other places for orientation
Cantalupo In Sabina, Contigliano, Torri In Sabina, Piedicolle, Orvinio, Poggio Catino, Madonna del Mattone, Poggio Mirteto
For the higher-level travel overview: Rieti.
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