Greccio

The first hypothesis on the tymology of the town's name is linked to the settlement of ancient Greek colonists in the same place where Greccio now stands. Hence the name, according to this hypothesis, Grecia, Grece, Grecce and finally Greccio.{{cite web|url=https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/greccio-home-of-the-worlds-first-nativity-scene.html|title=Greccio: home of the world's first Nativity scene|access-date=11 January 2024}}

According to other hypotheses, the name of Greccio used during the Middle Ages, "curtis de Greze", derives from "curtis", i.e. from a self-sufficient medieval economic organization managed by a lord, and from "greze" or "grezze" i.e. crushed stone (in Italian, pietre grezze), which recalls the presence of a stone quarry used at the time.{{cite web|url=https://www.protofilia.it/90-emissione-del-02-dicembre-2023-di-un-francobollo-ordinario-appartenente-alla-serie-tematica-il-patrimonio-artistico-e-culturale-italiano-dedicato-alla-prima-rappresentazione-del-presep/|title=Presepe di Greccio|access-date=11 January 2024}} According to this hypothesis, the name Greccio does not therefore derive from the ancient presence of Greek colonists.

File:Giotto - Legend of St Francis - -13- - Institution of the Crib at Greccio.jpg, 1295]]

File:Our hotel (appropriately Italian looking!) (3543814566).jpg

Modern Greccio, which is of medieval origin, was founded on lands of ancient Greek colonization, in a place where there was, in ancient times, a colony founded by colonists from Magna Graecia.{{cite web|url=https://comune.greccio.ri.it/contenuti/45621/borgo-medievale-greccio|title=BORGO MEDIEVALE di GRECCIO|access-date=9 January 2024|language=it}} They had fled or were exiled from their homeland as a result of war.

The earliest records of Greccio date back to the 10th and 11th centuries with the name of "curtis de Greze". The Benedictine Monk, Gregory of Catino (1062–1133) refers to the town of "Grecciae" in his work "Summary Farfense".{{cite web|url=https://www.e-borghi.com/it/itinerari/633/il-borgo-di-greccio-che-ogni-anno-ritorna-al-1223.html|title=Il borgo di Greccio, che ogni anno ritorna al 1223|access-date=11 January 2024|language=it}} From the remains of the ancient buildings, it shows that Greccio became a fortified medieval castle surrounded by walls and protected by a six towers fortress.

In documents from the 11th century, the toponym of Greccio is cited with many variations, until 1091, when the name "Grecciae", from which the current name derives, seems to spread; the community also experiences a fair amount of development, favored by the abundance of flat arable land and good pastures.

During the struggle with neighboring cities, the castle was destroyed in 1242 by the troops of Frederick II. They had a difficult history until 1799 when the town was destroyed and looted by the Napoleonic army. The town was called for the first time with its current name "Greccio" around 1720.

File:Greccio la piazza principale.jpg

Greccio was the place where, in December 1223, Saint Francis of Assisi devised the first living Nativity scene (in Italian: presepe). Francis' 1223 living nativity scene is commemorated on the calendars of the Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican liturgical calendars,Dues, Greg.Catholic Customs and Traditions: A Popular Guide Twenty-Third Publications, 2000.Thomas, George F.. Vitality of the Christian Tradition. Ayer Co. Publishing, 1944.{{Cite web|url=http://mylivingnativity.org|title=#MyLivingNativity|website=Upper Room Books|language=en-us|access-date=2018-10-31|archive-date=2021-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107122421/https://upperroombooks.com/mylivingnativity/|url-status=live}} and its creation{{cite book |last1=Matheson |first1=Lister M. |title=Icons of the Middle Ages: Rulers, Writers, Rebels, and Saints |date=2012 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-0-313-34080-2 |page=324 |language=English |quote=He was responsible for staging the first living Nativity scene or creche, in Christian history; and he was also Christianity's first stigmatic. He shares the honor of being patron saint of Italy with Saint Catherine of Siena. His feast day is celbrated on October 4, the day of his death; many churches, including the Anglican, Lutheran, and Episcopal churches, commemorate this with the blessing of the animals.}} is described by Saint Bonaventure in his Life of Saint Francis of Assisi c. 1260.{{cite web|last=St. Bonaventure|title=The Life of St. Francis of Assisi|url=http://www.ecatholic2000.com/bonaventure/assisi/francis.shtml|work=e-Catholic 2000|access-date=28 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614095831/http://www.ecatholic2000.com/bonaventure/assisi/francis.shtml|archive-date=14 June 2014}}

Saint Francis' manger scene is said to have been enacted at Christmas 1223 in a cave near the Sanctuary of Greccio. The very small chapel where it is said to have taken place survives.{{cite web|url=https://comune.greccio.ri.it/contenuti/45625/santuario-francescano|title=SANTUARIO FRANCESCANO DEL PRESEPIO|access-date=9 January 2024|language=it}} The painting over its altar, and others before 1400, by Giotto at the Assisi Lower Church, and by Antonio Vite in Pistoia, depict Saint Francis kneeling and placing a small baby into a chest-like manger. Giotto adds a miniature ox and ass. The Nativity scene tradition continues there to this day, and a memorial of Saint Francis, the Sanctuary of Greccio, may be visited.

{{main|Sanctuary of Greccio}}

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The Hermitage of Greccio Sanctuary ({{langx|it|Santuario Eremo di Greccio}}) is one of the four shrines erected by Saint Francis of Assisi in the Sacred Valley, along with the Sanctuary of Fonte Colombo, the Sanctuary of the Forest, and the convent of Poggio Bustone. Francis presented the first living Nativity scene in a nearby cave in December 1223.

Inside there are frescoes modern and original chapel of the saint carved in the rock. Francis, recalling a visit he had made years before to Bethlehem, resolved to create the manger he had seen there. The ideal spot was a cave in nearby Greccio. He would find a baby, hay upon which to lay him, an ox, and an ass to stand beside the manger. Word went out to the people of the town.

At the appointed time, the townspeople arrived carrying torches and candles. One of the friars began celebrating Mass while Francis himself gave the sermon. His biographer, Thomas of Celano, recalls that Francis stood before the manger, overwhelmed with love and filled with a wonderful happiness. For Francis, the simple celebration was meant to recall the hardships Jesus suffered even as an infant, a savior who chose to become poor for our sake, a truly human Jesus. The Sanctuary of Greccio may be visited.

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The medieval town that preserves part of the pavement of the old castle (11th century) and three of the six towers. The parish church of San Michele Archangel is located next to the bell tower on top of a flight of steps and dates back to the 11th century.{{cite web|url=https://comune.greccio.ri.it/contenuti/45623/chiesa-parrocchiale-s-michele-arcangelo|title=CHIESA PARROCCHIALE di SAN MICHELE ARCANGELO|access-date=9 January 2024|language=it}} The church was built over a part of the castle. The church was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The church as a Nave and side chapels. Two of the side chapels, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua and Our Lady Immaculate have paintings and frescoes of the 15th and 16th century, and stucco decorations created in 1636. Remarkable from an artistic point of view are the baptismal font, the main altar, a gilded silver chalice and a monstrance, all dating back to the 16th century. In the square, there is the Church of Santa Maria del Giglio from the 14th century.{{cite web|url=https://comune.greccio.ri.it/contenuti/1715373/chiesa-santa-maria-giglio|title=CHIESA della MADONNA DEL GIGLIO|access-date=9 January 2024|language=it}} This church also is a single aisle or Nave. It has a central altar and two side altars, stucco Roman school with influences of Carlo Fontana, and tempera paintings dated to the early 15th century. The high altar preserves, a fresco, which represents the Virgin and Child with Angels.

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|footer = Some of the nativity scenes exhibited at the International Museum of the Crib of Greccio

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The town contains the ruined church of Santa Maria, now restored as the International Museum of the Crib,{{cite web|url=https://www.touringclub.it/destinazione/localita/museo/329881/museo-internazionale-del-presepe-di-greccio-greccio|title=Museo Internazionale del Presepe di Greccio|access-date=9 January 2024|language=it}} the remains of the ancient towers, one of the entrance doors, the chapel dedicated to St. Francis, with the stone on which he used to preach, and the place where, according to tradition, was launched firebrand who made public the place designated for the construction of the Sanctuary. Inside the International Museum of the Crib there are nativity scenes from all the cultures of the world on display; outside it there is a statue of Saint Francis {{convert|5|m|ft}} high.{{Cite web|url=http://www.visitgreccio.com/attrazione/il-museo-dei-presepi|title=Museo del Presepe di Greccio|publisher=Visit Greccio - Vieni a scoprire Greccio|access-date=6 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216174946/http://www.visitgreccio.com/attrazione/il-museo-dei-presepi|archive-date=16 February 2017|url-status=dead}}

File:Greccio village.JPG]]

Greccio is surrounded by oak and elm forests, on which Mount Lacerone ({{convert|1204|m|ft|disp=or}}) stands out and gives a view of the entire Rieti Valley.{{cite web|url=http://www.lazioturismo.it/asp/scheda_archeo.asp?id=138|title=CONVENTO-SANTUARIO DI GRECCIO (Valle Reatina)|access-date=9 January 2024|language=it}} Here, St. Francis of Assisi, would retire in prayer and meditation in a hut protected by two hornbeam plants. In this same place, in 1712, by popular demand, it was built a memorial chapel dedicated to him, "the chapel".{{cite web|url=https://comune.greccio.ri.it/contenuti/45629/natura-cappelletta|title=NATURA - "LA CAPPELLETTA"|access-date=9 January 2024|language=it}} Here Saint Francis of Assisi used to retreat in prayer and meditation, in a hut protected by two hornbeam trees. On the top stands "la Cappelletta", a small chapel built in 1792 in his memory.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mondimedievali.net/Castelli/Lazio/rieti/provincia000.htm|title=TUTTE LE FORTIFICAZIONI DELLA PROVINCIA DI RIETI|access-date=10 January 2024}}

File:Panorama di Rieti da Greccio (1403187537).jpg seen from Greccio, with Rieti in the background]]

The town of Greccio is located in Sabina, in Upper Lazio, on the border with Umbria. The medieval town of Greccio stands on a ridge of the Monti Sabini, on the western edge of the Rieti Valley, at {{convert|705|m|ft}} above sea level (about {{convert|300|m|ft}} higher than the valley floor).{{cite web|url=https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/greccio/|title=Greccio|access-date=9 January 2024|publisher=Treccani|language=it}}

The flat part of the town territory extends into the underlying Rieti Valley and includes the frazioni of Spinacceto, Limiti di Greccio (where the town hall is located) and Sellecchia.

Distances from the most important population centers:{{cite web|url=https://www.elisabettamarinello.it/blog/bellezze-d-italia-greccio|title=BELLEZZE D'ITALIA: GRECCIO|access-date=9 January 2024|language=it}}

• From Contigliano: {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=off}};
• Rieti: {{convert|16|km|0|abbr=off}};
• Terni: {{convert|27|km|0|abbr=off}};
• L'Aquila: {{convert|77|km|0|abbr=off}};
• Rome: {{convert|96|km|0|abbr=off}}.

{{Historical populations

|type =

|align = center

|footnote = Istat historical data 1861–2021{{Cite web|url=http://dati.istat.it/Index.aspx|title=Statistiche I.Stat|publisher=ISTAT|access-date=28 December 2012}}

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|1861|1545

|1871|1729

|1881|1813

|1901|1892

|1911|1996

|1921|1951

|1931|2036

|1936|1940

|1951|2018

|1961|1591

|1971|1361

|1981|1518

|1991|1504

|2001|1464

|2011|1520

|2021|1514

}}

Among the most traditional, widespread and renowned economic activities are artisanal ones, such as the processing and art of iron and copper.{{cite book| title=Atlante cartografico dell'artigianato | publisher=A.C.I. | year=1985 | volume=2 | page=19|language=it}} Another important economic activity in Greccio is tourism.{{cite web|url=https://roma.corriere.it/arte_e_cultura/cards/i-borghi-piu-belli-d-italia-17-sono-lazio/greccio.shtml|title=I borghi più belli d'Italia: 17 sono nel Lazio|access-date=11 January 2024|language=it}}

The town is famous for the re-enactment of the first living nativity scene made by Francis of Assisi in 1223.{{Cite web|url=https://prolocogreccio.it/la-rievocazione-storica/|title=La Rievocazione Storica|access-date=10 January 2024}} On this occasion, nativity scenes are present throughout the town, and the main piazza of Greccio hosts a nativity scene art market. The living nativity scene recited by the local population, dressed in period clothing, is staged in front of the Sanctuary of Greccio, in memory of the historic event of 1223.

Some scenes of the film Il vegetale (2018), directed by Gennaro Nunziante and starring Fabio Rovazzi, were filmed in Greccio.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rietilife.com/2017/12/20/rovazzi-vegetale-esce-al-cinema-18-gennaio-molte-scene-girate-nel-reatino-trailer/|title=Rovazzi, "Il vegetale" esce al cinema il 18 gennaio | Molte scene girate nel Reatino|publisher=RietiLife|date=20 December 2017|access-date=13 January 2018}}

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| caption2 = The Reopasto provincial road (SP1), which connects Greccio to the valley floor

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Greccio has a junction on the Rieti-Terni dual carriageway (SS 79),{{cite web|url=https://notizie.virgilio.it/due-morti-e-quattro-feriti-dopo-l-incidente-sulla-superstrada-rieti-terni-scontro-frontale-tra-auto-1588069|title=Due morti e quattro feriti dopo l'incidente di Greccio sulla superstrada Rieti-Terni: scontro frontale|access-date=10 January 2024|language=it}} which runs at the foot of the mountains where the town stands.

The Reopasto provincial road (SP1) also runs through the valley floor, the main road connecting with Rieti and Terni before the construction of the dual carriageway. Along the SP1 there are its frazioni of Spinacceto, Limiti di Greccio (where the town hall are located){{cite web|url=https://www.lazionascosto.it/citta-fantasma-borghi-abbandonati-del-lazio/reopasto/#google_vignette|title=Il borgo fantasma di Reopasto|access-date=10 January 2024|language=it}} and Sellecchia.

The comune of Greccio and the Franciscan sanctuary are located along the provincial road SP1,{{cite web|url=https://www.trueriders.it/itinerari-moto/itinerari-moto-italia/lazio-in-moto/cammino-di-francesco/|title=Cammino di Francesco, fede e natura nella Piana Reatina|access-date=10 January 2024|language=it}} a branch of the SP1 which originates in Sellecchia and reconnects to the SP1 near Spinacceto.

File:FCU ALn 776.067 a Greccio 03.jpg

Greccio is crossed by the Terni–Sulmona railway, with trains to Terni, Rieti and L'Aquila, and is served by the Greccio rail station, located at the foot of the town in Sellecchia, {{convert|6|km|0|abbr=on}} from Greccio and {{convert|4|km|0|abbr=on}} from the sanctuary. Until 2014, the Terria rail station also served the town, located near the hamlet of Spinacceto, now abolished.{{Cite web|url=https://donet.rfi.it/RFIPlatform/viewDocumentWebById.do?docId={720B3F3E-3A78-451C-A10B-80A7A1BDAA06}&docType=CC|title=Circolare Territoriale 13/2014|date=1 September 2014|access-date=5 June 2017}}

Greccio is twinned with:

• {{flagicon|PLE}} Bethlehem, Palestine{{cite web|url=http://www.bethlehem-city.org/Twining.php |title=::Bethlehem Municipality:: |publisher=www.bethlehem-city.org |access-date=2009-10-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724140854/http://www.bethlehem-city.org/Twining.php |archive-date=2010-07-24 }}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• Prof. Francesco Benedetti; Greccio - From the castrum to the present day: a thousand-year journey in the sign of the presence of Francis of Assisi - 2007
• Arch. Marcello Mari; In the spirit of St. Francis - 2006

{{Commons}}

• [http://www.prolocogreccio.it/ The Pro Loco of Greccio]

{{Province of Rieti}}

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Category:Cities and towns in Lazio

Category:Hilltowns in Lazio

Category:Borghi più belli d'Italia