Discover Cantalice: Trails, Sanctuaries and Lakes

Cantalice combines a medieval village, historic churches, several pilgrimage and mountain trails, and a landscape shaped by lakes and wetlands. It also features regular religious events and the local specialty Strengozze Cantaliciane.

Mountain Trail 422: The trail, marked with CAI trail signs, leads from Cantalice to Fonte Versanello, is classified as easy and takes 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Cammino di San Felice: The route runs from the Santuario di San Felice all’Acqua in Cantalice to Cittaducale and is approximately 23 kilometers long.

Torre del Cassero: The tower dates back to the 11th century and bears witness to the existence of an ancient castle.

Stone Staircase: An imposing stone staircase with 350 steps crosses medieval Cantalice and branches off there.

Riserva Naturale Regionale Laghi Lungo e Ripasottile: The nature reserve encompasses two small lakes in the Rieti Plain and is particularly suitable for birdwatching in winter and during migration.

Festa patronale di San Felice: The patron saint’s festival takes place every year on May 18; on this occasion, the statue of San Felice is carried in a procession through the streets of Cantalice.

Churches, Springs and Village History

The Chiesa di San Felice was built in 1700 and dedicated to the patron saint of Cantalice. The Santuario di San Felice all’Acqua was built beside the spring considered miraculous and associated with San Felice.

At the Santuario di San Felice all’Acqua, Masses are celebrated every Sunday from the last Sunday in August to the first Sunday in October, and rites are held in honor of the saint.

The Chiesa della Madonna della Pace also reflects the history of the town and its ties with Rieti. It was built in 1571 to commemorate the peace between Cantalice and Rieti. The Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo, by contrast, was built to seal the union of the old castles from which the Castello di Cantalice emerged.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo contains the tomb monuments of Giovan Battista Valentini, also known as “Cantalicio,” and San Felice Porri.

Pilgrimage Routes and Independent Trail Sections

Cantalice lies along the second stage of the Cammino di San Francesco from Poggio Bustone to Rieti.

The Cammino di Benedetto also crosses Cantalice along the section connecting the Franciscan sanctuary of San Giacomo in Poggio Bustone with the Santuario di Santa Maria de La Foresta in the direction of Rieti. The Cammino di San Felice da Cantalice runs from the Santuario di San Felice all’Acqua in Cantalice to Cittaducale and is approximately 23 kilometers long.

Views of the Lakes and Nature Observation

The square in front of the Chiesa di San Felice offers views of two lakes: Laghi Lungo, also called Lago di Cantalice, and Lago di Ripasottile. The Riserva Naturale Regionale Laghi Lungo e Ripasottile is characterized by reeds and wet woodland areas. The two small lakes are particularly suitable for birdwatching in winter and during migration.

Festivals and Local Specialty

The Sagra delle Strengozze takes place at the end of August. Strengozze Cantaliciane has been recognized by ARSIAL Lazio as a traditional typical product.

For further travel planning, you can also consider the destinations Leonessa, Rieti and Belmonte In Sabina.

For the higher-level travel overview: Province of Rieti.