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Poggio San Lorenzo

Poggio San Lorenzo, whose municipal territory covers an area of 8 square kilometers, is populated by 550 inhabitants and rises 495 m. above sea level, 20 km. away from Rieti.

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Population

571

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Area

8,7 km²

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Altitude

494 m

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Where is it?

At 20 km from Rieti, a village of 550 inhabitants rises to a height of 495 meters above sea level and extends for 8 square km.

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Its origins?

Tradition says that the name of Poggio San Lorenzo was given to the village by its inhabitants, in the 4th century, after the passage of Sant'Emidio who preached the martyrdom of San Lorenzo. The people, impressed by the profound religious message, then transformed the ancient name of the village - Vicus Nervae - into the current one. Its history is deeply rooted in the past, although its origin is fixed by historians around the 1st-2nd century AD, in fact it is believed that this territory was inhabited much earlier by the Pelasgians, who arrived from Greece before being thrown out by the Sabines, between the 10th and 7th centuries BC. In Roman times, the alliance between the Sabines and the Romans contributed to the development of the village which had become a fundamental passage along the consular Via Salaria. By the time of the Roman Empire, Poggio San Lorenzo had become a castrum, a military fortification along the salt road. The walls that surrounded the village for defense, still visible today, are composed of large arches surmounted by a castle built during the Middle Ages, of which today only a wall is visible behind the parish church. In the 5th century, Poggio San Lorenzo was annexed to the Abbey of Farfa, following its destiny until the Napoleonic era, during which it became a large municipality that also included the villages of Frasso, Torricella, Ornaro, Ginestra and Monteleone. During the Napoleonic period, the barracks of the mounted gendarmerie, that today houses the Carabinieri Station, was established in the village. In 1915 Poggio San Lorenzo was hit by the violent earthquake of Avezzano, due to which the vault of the parish church collapsed and numerous buildings were rendered unusable, including the Town Hall. The Reconstruction Committee even wrote to the king in January 1926 and obtained the allocation of the resources necessary to start the reconstruction work.

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What to see?

When observing the village from afar, the great majesty of its imposing walls appears to the tourists, showing its wide round arches that reach the height of 20 meters. Inside, the main square is dominated by the church of San Lorenzo which was renovated in 1780, erasing its 14th-century origins. The church preserves two remarkable canvases dating back to the late 16th century, the "Virgin with Child and St. Joseph" and the "Martyrdom of St. Lawrence". A few kilometers away from the village stands the small church of the “Madonna dei Penitenti”, probably dating back to the 4th century AD and built on the remains of a temple dedicated to the goddess Vacuna. The locality Valle Gemma is known as the site of what, according to historians, was presumably a pre-Roman oppidum or an Italic sanctuary, characterized by its polygonal shape that was supposed to represent a religious or social center. Another important attraction is represented by an imposing centuries-old holm oak, the largest in Europe. Moving towards the locality of Capo Farfa, stands the church of Santa Maria in Pulaccio, which preserves some frescoes dating back to the 16th century. Located along the Franciscan Path, Poggio San Lorenzo is the only village welcoming pilgrims on their way to Rome in the Pilgrim's House. The municipal territory also includes the wildlife garden of Piano dell'Abatino, where animals in need are often welcomed and assisted.