Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, located in a very central position, is the highest point of the city and still today represents a meeting point for the citizens. The ancient Forum stood here and it was, probably around the 3rd century a.C. the place of the first settlements of ancient Reate. During the last years the square has been revalued thanks to the realisation of a pedestrian precinct and the placement of Fontana dei Delfini, (a marble group dating back to the first half of the 18th century) in its original place in the middle of the square. The town hall, stands in front of the fountain. Its construction started during the 13th century and was completed in the first half of the 700's by roman architect Filippo Brioni. Under the arcade there are two busts dating back to the end of the 800's, reperesenting Garibaldi by Paolo Bartolini and Emanuele II by Tito Giannini. The front of the town hall was modified in the beginning of 900's by architect Cesare Bazzani, who also realized the Council Hall frescoed by Vittorio Calcagnadoro with four pieces of work that represent Justice, Art, Industry and Agriculture.
In the first floor there is the Municipal Library realized in 1865 and called "Paroniana" because of several pieces of work preserved there that are originating from the collection of monsignor Paroni.
On the second floor it is possible to visit Museo Civico that preserves important archaeologically and artistically precious pieces of work. A cinerary urn found in Rieti countryside and a Hebe, made of plaster and golden bronze in 1815 and attributed to Canova, are of great value.
Among the paintings it is possible to admire the magnificent Madonna col Bambino e Santi painted by the Senese artist Luca Tommè and Crocifissione e Santi, a tempera painting by Zannino di Pietro (1405).
The museum also preserves a small artistic collection of one of the most important figures of roman painting of 400's, Antoniazzo Romano and of his school. Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II is surrounded by beautiful, noble buildings; on the right, next to Via Cintia there is Palazzo Dosi, dating back to the 15th century. On the opposite side there is Palazzo Blasetti, realized in the 16th century.
On the other side of the square, on Via Garibaldi on the right, it is possible to admire two important buildings Palazzo Capelletti dating back to 1600 century and Palazzo Vincenti Mareri, constructed around 1800 by architect Giuseppe Valadier. On the other side on Via Garibaldi there is Teatro Flavio Vespasiano. In front of it there is Via Cerroni, which leads to Piazza San Rufo. According a tradition it is the centre of Italy and indeed there is a plaque with writing the "Centre of Italy" in 20 different languages. Next to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II there is Piazza Cesare Battisti where an old late-renaissance style, simple and elegant façade of the former Casa Poiana can be admired. Today the building serves as Prefecture. Next to it there is a hanging garden, enjoyable also for disabled people, onto which the noble Loggia, attributed to Vignola, opens.
The cathedral stands on Piazza Cesare Battisti. It was constructed around 1200 on the bases of the ancient Basilica of Santa Maria dell'Assunta, which dates back to the 6th century. A Baroque style restoration changed its original roman style aspect and from the ancient architecture it conserves externally only the façade divided by semi-pillars in three blind archs. Sideways to the façade, embellished by a cross vault portico, there is the Battistero, constructed during the same period, and the Belltower, built later on.
The inside of the cathedral has the form of Latin cross and it has a nave and two aisles marked by pillars onto which round arch rests. The cathedral has been modified between 17th and 18th century by architects Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Giovan Battista Garzani, Carlo Fontana e Sebastiano Cipriani. The high altar preserves the relics of Santa Barbara. Above, there are four pillars standing with four plain, golden architraves and corinthian capitals. Four little angels surmount the pillars to complete a seven meters high solemn baldachin. Santa Barbara's chapel, completed in 1500, is of great value and a statue of the Santa, realized by Giovannantonio Mari on the drawing of Bernini, is placed on the altar. From Piazza Cesare Battisti it is possible to reach Via San Pietro Martire, where the municipal library is situated. A little further, on Via Sant'Anna, it is recommended to visit Museo Civico Archeologico, located inside Santa Lucia's monastery. The museum conserves several finds originating from the Rieti area, among which those found in a necropolis in Poggio Sommavilla.
From Piazza Cesare Battisti it is possible to return to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II crossing Piazza Vittorio where a statue of San Francesco, created by sculptor Giordano Nicoletti (1926), can be admired. To get back to the starting point, it is necessary to turn right on Via Cintia. Continuing the walk it is possible to go down Via Peschiera and that way arrive at piazza Oberdan.
In the gardens of the square there is a recent bronze by sculptor Morsani, representing Marco Terenzio Varrone. On the left there is Palazzo Ricci, a work of architect Giovanni Stern and on the right Palazzo del seminario. On its right, in the beginning of Via Pescheria large travertin parallelepipedons remain as a proof of the roman wall. Going down from here one arrives in Piazza Mazzini where Chiesa di San Agostino, dating back to the 13th century, can be admired. A central rose window opens from the façade and it surmounts the richly sculpted late Gothic style portal. "La Vergine in trono col Bambino tra Sant'Agostino e Santa Monica" by Giacomo Pandolfi, "L'estasi di Santa Rita da Cascia" by Lattanzio Piccoli and "la Strage degli innocenti" by Ludovico Carosi are preserved inside the church. |
