Sanctuary of Greccio

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Franciscan sanctuary of Greccio

The Hermitage of Greccio Sanctuary is one of the four shrines erected by St. Francis in the Sacred Valley , along with the Sanctuary of Fonte Colombo, the Sanctuary of the Forest, and the convent of Poggio Bustone. It is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the capital of the province of Rieti, is recessed at an altitude of 665 metres (2,182 ft) above sea level, in the rocks of the mountains in the immediate vicinity of the medieval village of Greccio with stunning views of the wide valley.

Legend

The legend about St. Francis, says that he choose this place. The most striking is that of the child to whom Francis threw a firebrand, flying like an arrow, and it landed on the rock wall of a hill owned by a lord of Greccio, the Velita. This same Velita in 1223 pushed Francis to give life to a splendid evocation, with live people, the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve. Legend has it that a little boy, the only character not part of the living re-enactment, came to life during the event, before returning to death. Since then, Greccio and its sanctuary is the country of the first nativity scene in the world. Later it was twinned with Bethlehem.

Sanctuary and Chapel

The shrine is a Latin cross, characterized by a side wall and an apse hexagonal. The mullioned windows are Gothic style. Inside there are frescoes modern and original chapel of the saint carved in the rock. The church is located after crossing the square. It joins the refectory. The church has a Latin cross with a bell tower. Under the medieval church is the crypt of St. Francis with a lunette showing the 'Preparation of the Nativity. The painting dates from the thirteenth Century.