A small hill town in Sabina situated at an altitude of 450 m. Colli sul Velino is surrounded by green areas on the border with Umbria; in the surroundings there is Lake Ventina, the Velino River and the S. Susanna Channel, which is popular with sport fishermen; in the neighbouring areas, in addition to Rieti, there are other Sabine centres such as Greccio with its Franciscan Sanctuary, the site of the first nativity scene, the Marmore Falls and Lake Piediluco, which belong to the nearby Umbria region.
The historian Terenzio Varrone gives us news of some settlements in the area where Colli sul Velino stands today. He owned a villa surrounded by greenery that is identified with a set of ruins found in a place called ‘Grotte di San Nicola’.
The presence of several ruins of various religious buildings creates an evocative atmosphere and bears witness to the deep historical roots of the town.
The parish church of Santa Maria Maddalena, in Baroque style, was recently restored.
The presence in the municipality of areas that belong to the Nature Reserve of the Lungo and Ripasottile Lakes and the picturesque Ventina Lake, which has existed since prehistoric times, is the destination for a historical-naturalistic excursion. The lake is also the ideal place to find relief and refreshment in the height of summer.
The local economy is boosted by fishing the plentiful trout, eels and carp in the clear waters and surrounding lake basins are a major attraction for anglers and gourmets, and many local dishes are in fact based on fish.