Pilgrimage in Italy: from Fonte Colombo to Rieti, Poggio Bostone and back to Assisi

The town of Cantalice

Eating in the refectory with the friars was an interesting experience. In big letters, SILENTIUM was written at the end of the hall. However, each of the 5 friars was sitting at an about 15 feet long wooden table alone, having conversation by shouting over the table to the friar far away.

Misty morning

On the way down to the cave where St. Francis prayed (Sacro Speco), I peaked through a tiny window into a room full of human bones. I could not find out to whom they belonged.

Bones above chapel of Maddalena

When I entered Rieti, a heavy thunderstorm was above me. Walking beside the Velino river showed me the incredible force of this river with emerald green water.

Rieti seen from the Roman bridge.

Romans settled in Rieti already in BC and built a bridge over the Velino river, which still can be seen in the river and underground. It was the main route to transport salt, a product more precious than gold.

Roman bridge underground Rieti. A huge area underneath Rieti still keeps Roman buildings and waits to be excavated.

Underground Rieti with part of the Roman city wall

In Rieti, I met my son Lorenz. He walked part of the Camino Francesco too and timing worked out perfectly to finish the way together.

Big joy to meet Lorenz

At the Sanctuary La Foresta, we got a great tour of the beautiful place.

View down into the Rieti valley, which was once a huge lake and drained by the Romans

Cloister

Cloister

Organic garden

In the Sanctuary of La Foresta live also 5 dogs and 3 cats. They are incredible peaceful and loving to each other.

On the way to Poggio Bostone we passed the town Cantalice, whose houses are built on the mountain like a waterfall.

Cantalice

The mother of the Bar owner made for us delicious vegetarian lunch

The way up the mountain was beautiful- blue, clear sky, view into the Rieti valley and up to the mountains with the highest mountain of Monte Garzano ( over 2000m). We walked nearly 1000 meter up the mountain until we realized that we must have missed a turn. We had to return down to 600m and walk up again to 800.

Beautiful, but wrong way

In order to make a shortcut, we had to pass private property ( Agriturism Poeta) and were so lucky that there was no dog and we could climb over a gate.

As it was already late afternoon, Lorenz went faster ( his normal pace) to announce our coming in the sanctuary. I arrived at Poggio Bostone, a town with a maze of steep stairs, narrow walkways, corners, niches and confusing layout, when it got already dark. I did not want to walk one step more when I saw a tiny restaurant called L’Antico Arco. We decided to eat there and had the most deliceous food we ever had in our live.

The dorm in the sanctuary was very simple, but had a hot shower- always a treat after a long hike.

We got up at 5 am to walk to the cave of St. Francis and finish our pilgrimage (in this cave he composed part of the Canticle to the sun)

We both rang the bell to announce the end of the pilgrimage

Candles were burning when we arrived. It was cosy warm. October 4th was the day St. Francis died ( the day before). Maybe this was the reason of the many candles. It was a very special ending of a special pilgrimage.