Rieti

Infobox CityIT
img_coa =Rieti.jpg
official_name = Comune di Rieti
name=Rieti
region = Lazio
province = Rieti (RI)
elevation_m = 405
area_total_km2 = 206
population_as_of = December 31, 2004
population_total = 46834
population_density_km2 = 201
timezone = CET, UTC+1
coordinates = coord|42|24|N|12|52|E
frazioni =
telephone = 0746
postalcode = 02100
gentilic =Reatini
saint = St. Barbara
day = December 4
mayor = Giuseppe Emili (since May 2002)
website = [http://www.comune.rieti.it www.comune.rieti.it]
mapx = 42.42
mapy=12.88

Rieti ( _la. Reate) is a town in Lazio, Italy, with a population of 47,332. It is the capital of Rieti Province.

The town centre rests on a small hilltop, commanding a wide plain at the southern edge of an ancient lake. The area is now the fertile basin of the Velino river (known as Mellinus in ancient times). Only the small Ripasottile and Cantalice lakes remain of the original large one.

History

Ancient era

"Reate" was originally a major site of the Sabine nation. After the Roman conquest, carried out by Manius Curius Dentatus in late 3rd century BC, the village became a strategic point in the early Italic road network, dominating the "salt" track (known as Via Salaria) that linked Rome to the Adriatic Sea through the Appennines.

Curius Dentatus drained a large portion of the lake by making the Velino a distributary of the Nera river. The wide area once occupied by the lake turned into a fertile plain. Following Roman customs, the land was split into characteristic square allotments. The town itself underwent significant development, being re-organized according to typical Roman urbanistic standards (e.g., two orthogonal roads make up the settlement's backbone), and was fortified with strong walls. A stone bridge was laid across the Velino river, and a large viaduct was built to bring goods from the Salaria road directly to Rieti's southern door.

Roman Reate deserved several quotations in Latin literature, thanks to its flourishing soil, its valued assets, and some peculiarities of the surroundings (such as wandering islands and hollow-subsurfaced fields). Cicero, for instance, describes the tensions between Reate and Interamna (Terni) following the lake drainage, and refers to the country houses (villae) that his friend Q. Axius owned in the plain.

Middle Ages

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire Rieti suffered destruction by Barbarians, but never ceased to be an important gastaldate during the Lombard domination, as part of the Duchy of Spoleto. Under the Franks, it was county capital. It was sacked by the Saracens in the 9th and 10th century and, by the Norman king Roger II of Sicily in 1149.

The city was rebuilt with the help of the Roman comune, and from 1198 was also a free comune, of Guelph orientation, with a podestà of its own.

As a favourite Papal seat, Rieti was the place of important historical events: Constance of Hauteville married here by proxy Emperor Henry VI (1185). Charles I of Anjou was crowned King of Apulia, Sicily and Jerusalem by Pope Nicholas I in 1289. Pope Gregory IX celebrated canonized St. Dominic in Rieti (1234).

Late Middle Ages and modern era

After the Papal seat had been moved to Avignon, Rieti was conquered by the King of Naples, while inner struggles between Guelphs and Ghibellines broke out. In 1354 it was won back by Cardinal Albornoz, and it later became a feudal seignory of the Alfani family within the Papal States. More of the surrounding plain was drained in the following century, but this led to confrontation with the neighboring Terni.

Rieti was province capital of the Papal States from 1816 to 1860. After the unification of Italy, it was initially part of Abruzzi, being annexed to Lazio in 1923. It became the provincial capital on January 2, 1923.

Main sights

The downtown of the ancient Sabine and Roman city was crowded with buildings, including baths ("thermae"). Unfortunately, only scarce remains were found during excavations in 19th and 20th century: the foundations of a large temple, the stone floor of the main square (forum), walls from private houses, concrete vaults, statues and pottery items. The most striking remains are the stone bridge across the Velino river and the viaduct.

Piazza San Rufo is traditionally considered to be the exact centre of Italy (Latin "Umbilicus Italiae").

Other sights include:
*the "Cathedral", started in 1109 over a pre-existing basilica, was consacrated in 1225 and almost entirely rebuilt in 1639. It has a stunning Romanesque bell tower from 1252. The entrance portico leads to a noteworthy portal from the 13th century. The interior, on Latin cross plan with one nave and two aisles, has mainly Baroque decorations. Notable is a statue of "St. Barbara" by Giannantonio Mari (1657), probably designed by Bernini. Other art pieces include a fresco by Antoniazzo Romano and canvases from 16th and 17th centuries. The crypt corresponds to the most ancient part of the church, consecrated in 1157. The Baptistery has an elegant baptismal font from the 15th century.
*the "Palazzo Vescovile" ("Bishops Palace"), whose construction was begun in 1283. Noteworthy are the loggia and eight Renaissance-style windows from 1532. The lower floor is occupied by the so-called "Volte del Vescovado", a great portico with two naves of Gothic arcades. The Grand Hall houses the Diocese Gallery.
*the "Palazzo Comunale" ("Town Hall", 13th century, rebuilt in the 18th century), facing Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, a square corresponding to the ancient Roman forum. The Palace houses the Town Museum which hosts works by Antoniazzo Romano, Antonio Canova, Bertel Thorwaldsen.
*the "Palazzo del Governo", with a noble loggia from 1596.
*the Bishop's Arch, a bridge built by Boniface VIII.
*the church of St. Peter Martyr (13th century), with luxurious golden Baroque decorations. It has a "Presentation of Christ to the Temple" by Giovanni Battista Gaulli.
*"Palazzo Vicentini", attributed to Giuliano da Sangallo the Younger.
*the Walls, dating from the first half of the 13th century, with carachteristical rounded and square towers.
*the Gothic church of "Sant'Agostino" (13th century, restored in the 18th century). The portal has a fresco of "Madonna with Child and St. Augustin and St. Nicholas" (1354), of Senese school.
*"Santa Maria in Vescovio", a church built in the 8th century and subsequently modified to the current 12th century Romanesque appearance. The interior has a single nave and frescoes from the late 13th-early 14th centuries, depicting the Last Judgement and scenes from the Old and New Testament.
*the church of St. Francis (begun in 1245, radically restored in 1636). The interior has a single nave. The original frescoes from the 14th-15th centuries are now in the Diocese Museum and in the Palazzo Vescovile.
*the late Renaissance "Palazzo Vecchiarelli", designed by Carlo Maderno.

Also interesting are the sights in the Lake Lungo and Ripasottile Natural Preserve, and the Mount Terminillo.

Notable natives

*Marcus Terentius Varro (116 – 27 BC), Roman scholar and writer.
*Giuseppe Ottavio Pitoni (1657 – 1743), composer.
*Renzo De Felice (1929 – 1996), historian of Fascism.
*Lucio Battisti (1943 - 1998), singer and songwriter born in Poggio Bustone, near Rieti.
*Antonio Gherardi (1638 - 1702) Italian painter, architect, and sculptor (stuccoist).

Twin cities

*flagicon|Japan Ito, Japan.

Transportation

Rieti can be reached from the A1 (Rome-Florence) motorway from the Orte gate, and then through the SS.79. The city is also connected to Rome by the ancient Via Salaria.

Rieti has a station on the Terni-L'Aquila railway.

Trivia

*Kobe Bryant (1984 - 1992) Although not a native, Bryant moved to Rieti with his family in 1984 and lived there for 8 years. He attended school in Rieti and as a result speaks fluent Italian to this day.
*Andrew Howe an italian athlete grew up in Rieti
*Asafa Powell ran the then world record time of 9.74 s at the Rieti Athletics meeting. This record stood from September 9, 2007 until Usain Bolt broke it on 31 May 2008.
*Independent band Kimera, which toured with Sonic Youth across Northern Europe for 2 years, was founded in Rieti in 1996-1997.

External links

* [http://www.comune.rieti.it Official website of the municipality of Rieti] it icon
* [http://map.guit.it/mappa-di-rieti Rieti's Map]
* [http://www.apt.rieti.it/eng/index.php Rieti Tourist Board]