Frasso Sabino walk - Frasso Sabino - Rieti Province

Route: Frasso Sabino

Area: Rieti Province, Lazio region, Central Italy

Date of walk: 31st May 2023

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 0.5 mile

Ascent: 50 feet

Weather: Sunny and warm

Frasso Sabino is another small hilltop village in the province of Rieti and has a population of about 700. We hadn’t planned to visit it but noticed the castle, Castello Sforza Cesarini, whilst passing by and decided that it would be worth a visit. The huge castle walls protect the stone houses within and there are wonderful views over the surrounding Sabine Hills as one strolls around. We parked at the edge of the old part of the village and walked up the main street. After passing under an archway we ambled around the centre, which is quite small but which is full of charm and interest. As usual, we had the place to ourselves apart from the occasional local resident

During the course of our short stay in the Sabine Hills area we visited seven ancient small villages and towns – Posticciola, Colle di Tora, Castel di Tora, Rocca Sinibalda, Toffia, Frasso Sabino (today’s walk) and Monteleone Sabino. These general comments apply to all of them, and no doubt to the many other old villages in the region. Anyone following our footsteps is advised to park outside the old areas for two reasons: firstly, traffic regulations are in place which restrict entry to locals and, secondly, the streets are very narrow and winding, and inevitably peter out. Once in, it would be hard to get out. These quiet communes do not cater for mass tourism and although there may be the occasional village shop, local bar or restaurant there is no guarantee that it will be open for business. I’ve provided the customary route maps of our walks, but it’s not necessary to follow a set route. There are numerous alleys, staircases and narrow passageways and it’s best to follow whichever of these looks to be the most tempting

Click on the icon below for the route map

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We enter the old village with the huge walls of Castello Sforza Cesarini on our right

We pass under the archway...

As with our other walks around these old villages, there are numerous tempting alleys, arches and side passages so we didn't follow a particular route and went where our fancy took us...