The little town Morro Reatino sits on a rocky spur at the beginning of the Fuscello Valley: today its medieval centre, dating from the 12th century, still boasts the Castle gate and the remains of the walls of the towers.
Its origins can be traced back to Roman settlements; the centre winds around the Castle in concentric circles: the walls with their Guelph battlements and circular and square towers stress Morro’s defensive role in the past.
The Parish Church devoted to the Patron Saint Lorenzo, with its funerary urn, now repurposed as a baptismal font, is of great artistic interest.
Excursions via footpath in search of ancient splendours are arranged by local people – one takes us to visit the Hermitage of San Michele Arcangelo, in Coste Lignano, amid forests of chestnut and various varieties of oak trees.
Well worth visiting is the pretty medieval centre, with the Castle, the 15th century Church of Santa Maria, devoted to the Madonna of Mozzapiedi and the Church of San Lorenzo with its painting of the Virgin Mary with child being raised on high by angels; in the past it also contained a beautiful 15th century cross in gilded silver (now in Rieti).
The numerous invasions by bands of brigands have given rise to the legend of the Madonna of Mozzapiedi [foot-chopper!], according to which the local inhabitants were saved from an attack thanks to the miraculous apparition of the Virgin, who provoked the mutilation of the brigands’ feet, so that they bled to death.
The area is rich in mushrooms and truffles, chestnuts and walnuts. In August there is the Festival of the Pizzola, fried bread dough sprinkled with salt or sugar; other local specialities include pappardelle pasta alla Garibaldina (red pasta with cream and peas) and polenta with a chestnut and roveia (type of pea) sauce.
Tasty main courses include wild boar with forest fruits and lamb, either braised or with olives.