Montepiano Reatino: Lands of Water, Stone and Trails (Rivodutri stages)
The widespread festival of the Montepiano Reatino, featuring springs, archaeology, and dining under the stars
About Lands of Water, Stone and Trails
A widespread festival in the green heart of the Rieti area
Montepiano Reatino: Lands of Water, Stone and Trails is the widespread festival that, in June 2026, brought the villages of the V Comunità Montana in northern Lazio to life for the first time. Promoted by the mountain authority and funded by the Lazio Region, the festival united seven municipalities in the province of Rieti—Cantalice, Colli sul Velino, Greccio, Labro, Morro Reatino, Poggio Bustone, and Rivodutri—in a single collective narrative surrounding the Laghi Lungo e Ripasottile Nature Reserve.
The concept is rooted in slow tourism: rather than a single main stage, the event features four themed weekends that guide the audience from village to village, through trails, castles, springs, and banquet tables. This format highlights inland areas without turning them into mere spectacles, weaving together nature, history, and local products.
Rivodutri, the town of water
In the festival schedule, Rivodutri is the town of water. Its territory is home to the Santa Susanna Springs, among the most abundant natural springs in Europe—an emerald-green mirror of water surrounded by beech and hornbeam trees that remain surprisingly cool even in summer. This is where the Rivodutri stages of the festival were concentrated, alongside the historic village center and the La Spera area.
The 2026 Rivodutri stages
- Sunday, June 7, 8:30 AM — ArkeoTrekking at the Springs: A guided walk starting from the Santa Susanna Springs, during the opening weekend dedicated to "Water and Nature Awakening," featuring an archaeological and naturalistic interpretation of the landscape.
- Saturday, June 27, 7:00 PM — "Accussì mi ricordu…": At La Spera, a musical theater performance of memory by Ettore Castagna, featuring the chitarra battente, Calabrian lyre, and family stories, with the ArabianBlue Dance Company.
- Saturday, June 27, 8:00 PM — Dinner Under the Stars: In the church square, a convivial dinner with live music and local products (reservation required, limited seating).
- Sunday, June 28, 12:00 PM — The Water Banquet: At the Santa Susanna Springs, freshwater street food featuring tastings of trout and river crayfish, with free entry until capacity is reached.
The four weekends
The first edition was divided into four themed stages: "Water and Nature Awakening" (June 5–7, between Colli sul Velino, Rivodutri, and Rieti), "Paths of Stone, Light and Faith" (June 12–14, with light installations in the castles and medieval towers of Labro, Morro Reatino, and Cantalice), "The Spirit of the Horizons Trail" (June 19–21, in Greccio and Poggio Bustone, the villages dear to Saint Francis, with urban trekking and the performance "Io, Francesco"), and finally "Montepiano Tables and Nights of Light" (June 26–28), the grand gastronomic and astronomical finale involving Cantalice, Poggio Bustone, and Rivodutri.
Flavors and the sky
The final weekend showcased the culinary identity of the Montepiano: show cooking dedicated to porchetta in Poggio Bustone, farmers' markets, exhibitions of artistic crafts, and, to close, astronomical observations guided by the Rieti amateur astronomers' association. In Rivodutri, the focus was on freshwater, with the local spring trout as the absolute star.
Why it's worth the trip
Rivodutri is about fifteen kilometers from Rieti and serves as a natural gateway to the Franciscan Holy Valley and Mount Terminillo. Participating in a festival stage means walking along the spring trails in the morning and finding yourself at a table in the square in the evening, surrounded by the same community that organized the day: this is the most successful aspect of the festival.
Lands of Water, Stone and Trails — edition 2026
2026 Inaugural Edition
Four themed weekends, seven municipalities involved, and a single common thread: the water, stone, and trails of the Montepiano Reatino. The first edition, promoted by the V Comunità Montana and funded by the Lazio Region with the coordination of the Mediadux agency, took place from June 5 to 28, 2026, around the Laghi Lungo e Ripasottile Nature Reserve.
In Rivodutri, there were two stages, at the opening and closing of the festival: the archaeological trekking at the Santa Susanna Springs during the "Water and Nature Awakening" weekend, and the gastronomic finale of "Montepiano Tables and Nights of Light," with dinner in the square and tastings of trout and river crayfish. Commissioner Simone Miccadei reported participation exceeding expectations, defining the festival as a new route for tourism in the inland areas of Rieti.
Programme Lands of Water, Stone and Trails 2026
Weekend 1 — "Water and Nature Awakening" (June 5–7)
- Friday 5, Colli sul Velino: "Poetry and Notes at Sunset," poetic walk (7:30 PM), cheese and truffle tasting (8:30 PM), sunset string concert by Duo Aura (9:30 PM)
- Saturday 6, Colli sul Velino: Horseback excursion along the Laghi Lungo e Ripasottile (4:30 PM), aperitif at the Laghetto di Santa Susanna (7:30 PM), photography workshop with Massimo Renzi at Lago Lungo (8:30 PM)
- Saturday 6, Rieti: Dinner and music under the stars with the Allegrini Orchestra (8:00 PM)
- Sunday 7, Rivodutri: "ArkeoTrekking at the Springs," guided walk starting from the Santa Susanna Springs (8:30 AM)
Weekend 2 — "Paths of Stone, Light and Faith" (June 12–14)
Medieval castles and towers of Labro, Morro Reatino, and Cantalice with light art installations.
Weekend 3 — "The Spirit of the Horizons Trail" (June 19–21)
In Greccio and Poggio Bustone, Franciscan villages: urban trekking, conferences on intercultural dialogue, and the performance "Io, Francesco."
Weekend 4 — "Montepiano Tables and Nights of Light" (June 26–28)
- Friday 26, Greccio: "The Living Embers of the Montepiano," meeting with press and operators at Piazzale 3 Compagni (7:00 PM)
- Saturday 27, Rivodutri (La Spera area): "Accussì mi ricordu…," musical theater of memory with Ettore Castagna, chitarra battente and lyre (7:00 PM)
- Saturday 27, Rivodutri: Dinner Under the Stars in the church square, with traditional music and local products (8:00 PM, reservation required)
- Saturday 27, Colli sul Velino: Astronomical observation guided by the Rieti amateur astronomers' association (10:00 PM)
- Saturday 27 and Sunday 28, Poggio Bustone: Exhibition of artistic crafts in the historic center (9:30 AM)
- Sunday 28, Rivodutri: "The Water Banquet" at the Santa Susanna Springs, freshwater street food with trout and river crayfish (12:00 PM)
- Sunday 28, Poggio Bustone: Porchetta cooking workshop (6:00 PM) and tasting (7:00 PM)
Highlights Lands of Water, Stone and Trails 2026
- ArkeoTrekking at the Santa Susanna Springs, among the most abundant natural springs in Europe
- "Accussì mi ricordu…" by Ettore Castagna, musical theater of Southern memory
- Dinner Under the Stars in the church square of Rivodutri
- The Water Banquet: trout and river crayfish at the springs
- Guided astronomical observations at Colli sul Velino
- A festival across seven villages around the Laghi Lungo e Ripasottile
Prices Lands of Water, Stone and Trails 2026
Practical information — Lands of Water, Stone and Trails
How to get there
Rivodutri is located about 15 km from Rieti along the SS79 and SP38 roads; from Rome, take the Salaria (SS4) to Rieti, a total of about 100 km. The reference train station is Rieti, connected to Terni; from there, continue by car or provincial bus lines. The Santa Susanna Springs have a paid parking area during the summer months.
Entry and reservations
The festival's walks and tastings were free to enter until capacity was reached; the Dinner Under the Stars required mandatory booking. Event office: +39 334 3000666 and +39 320 5623974; V Comunità Montana switchboard: +39 0746 25631.
Tips
For the ArkeoTrekking, hiking shoes and water are necessary; at the springs, the temperature remains cool even in June, so it is best to bring a light sweater. For overnight stays, it is advisable to look in Rieti, Labro, or the farmhouses around the Laghi Lungo and Ripasottile.
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Where does it take place — Lands of Water, Stone and Trails
Sorgenti di Santa Susanna e centro storico