Lands of Water, Stone and Paths – Cantalice Stop: «Paths of Stone, Light and Faith»

A widespread festival across the villages of the Montepiano Reatino

«Lands of Water, Stone and Paths» is the widespread festival that, in June 2026, brought a month of events to the villages of the Montepiano Reatino in the Lazio region for the first time. Promoted by the V Comunità Montana Montepiano Reatino and funded by the Lazio Region, the project united seven municipalities—including Cantalice—around the Laghi Lungo and Ripasottile Nature Reserve, with the goal of promoting slow, cultured, and sustainable tourism in the inland areas of the province of Rieti.

Cantalice and the «Paths of Stone, Light and Faith» stop

From June 12 to 14, 2026, the village of Cantalice, perched at 660 meters on the slopes of Mount Terminillo, took center stage alongside Labro and Morro Reatino for the «Paths of Stone, Light and Faith» weekend. The theme highlighted the castles and medieval towers of the three villages, enhanced by spectacular «Art Light» installations that, at dusk, illuminated the ancient stone with new light, blending Franciscan spirituality with local heritage.

Ancient crafts around the medieval tower

In Cantalice, the heart of the event was the exhibition of ancient crafts and artistic handiwork, set up in the historic center around the Torre del Cassero, the ancient medieval keep that overlooks the town next to the church of San Felice da Cantalice, the village's patron saint and the first saint of the Capuchin Friars Minor. Along the stone streets, artisans and performers recreated traditional skills and customs, offering visitors an immersive journey into the rural and artisanal culture of the Sabina territory.

The «Via della Fagiola» and local flavors

Alongside the cultural dimension, the Cantalice stop showcased local gastronomy with the «Via della Fagiola», a tasting event dedicated to typical local products: bread, oil, and beans, which are staples of the rural cuisine of the Rieti area. There was also an exhibition of zero-kilometer products in the town square, in collaboration with Copagri Rieti, highlighting the bond between the festival, agriculture, and local identity.

Urban trekking, poetry, and oral tradition

The program balanced nature and culture: a guided urban trek led residents and tourists to discover the alleys, stairways, and panoramic views of Cantalice, while improvised poetry performances and oral traditions revived a popular art form typical of the Central Apennines. A social media photo contest, using a dedicated hashtag for the Montepiano Reatino, invited participants to capture the beauty of the villages through their own lenses.

A new tourism model for inland areas

As the first edition of a project designed to build a network, «Lands of Water, Stone and Paths» proposed a model for enhancing the inland areas of Lazio that weaves together historical heritage, spirituality, hiking trails, and local products. The stop in Cantalice, in the province of Rieti, represented one of the most defining moments, successfully bridging the stone of the villages, the light of the installations, and the faith linked to the figure of San Felice.