The best cycling routes around Montorio Romano

among the most beautiful villages in Italy

The sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie is linked to Nerola both dynastically and devotionally. It was indeed Raimondo Orsini, Duke of Gravina and Count of Nerola, who had the church and convent built for the Franciscan Amadeiti, as a sign of gratitude towards the blessed Amedeo Menezes da Silva. The venerated image of the Madonna delle Grazie came from the castle of Nerola, from where it was brought to the church in a solemn procession on Pentecost Day in 1480. Local sources report that the Madonna venerated in the sanctuary was found in the castle of Nerola, or at least kept there, and then transferred to the new conventual church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. According to the sanctuary's tradition, the blessed Amedeo found the image of the Madonna in the castle of Nerola by revelation and left the castle of Nerola in procession for its new home precisely upon the completion of the sanctuary's construction in 1480. In a later age, the image was first placed in the first side chapel and then, in 1826, on the high altar. The sources of the Via Mariana recall that the venerated image was crowned in 1779 and, after a theft, was crowned again in 2008 by Cardinal Angelo Comastri. Another record describes the image as placed above the altar, stripped after the theft and recently restored, also with the contribution of gold offered by the population. Alongside this Marian devotion, a wooden triptych commissioned by the Orsini from Antoniazzo Romano is also documented in the sanctuary, with the Madonna and Child between Saint Francis and Saint Anthony of Padua, but distinct from the miraculous image that is the object of popular worship.

Village in the circuit of "The most beautiful villages in Italy". The roads to go up are also very beautiful, both from Licenza and from Poggio Moiano

Enchanting views, intense climbs. A little extra attention is needed due to the uneven asphalt and motorcyclists.

It is the highest municipality within the Monti Lucretili Park. Its crenellated profile is drawn against the backdrop of green mountains by the Malvezzi Campeggi castle, a sixteenth-century structure transformed into a residence and surrounded by a wonderful Italian garden. Among the buildings of worship, it is worth visiting the church of the Madonna dei Raccomadati, with a beautiful cycle frescoed by Vincenzo Mamenti, a seventeenth-century painter, that of San Gacomo, elevated and elegant, and the parish church of San Nicola di Bari. The miraculous image of the Madonna of Vallebona is kept and venerated in the seventeenth-century sanctuary of Santa Maria di Vallebona, just outside the town.

Characteristic town with its centenary olive groves.

Poggio Moiano is a beautiful village of medieval origin, built on a hill overlooking the surrounding woods of the Monti Lucretili regional park. In the surrounding area there are various testimonies from the Roman era even if the first news of the town is later and dates back to the year 1000 AD. Here every year, during the last week of June for the feast of the Sacred Heart, the flower display takes place with the streets of the village transformed into enormous canvases for works made with flower petals.

Mandatory stop in Palombara