Fonte Colombo

The Fonte Colombo Sanctuary, nestled in a dense oak forest in the Holy Valley of Rieti, is one of the most important and austere sites of Franciscan pilgrimage. It is known as the "Franciscan Sinai" because it was here, in the Cave of the Sacred Speco, where Saint Francis of Assisi, after 40 days of fasting and prayer, dictated the definitive Rule of the Franciscan Order in 1223, which was later approved by the Pope. For pilgrims on the Via di Francesco, visiting Fonte Colombo is to connect with the founding and legislative moment of Franciscanism. The sanctuary preserves the cave, the chapel of the Magdalene and the Tau, a symbol of Franciscanism that is said to have been painted by Saint Francis himself. The atmosphere is one of overwhelming silence and simplicity, inviting meditation and prayer. It reveals the more legislative and mystical side of Saint Francis, an essential stop in understanding the structure and spirit that has guided his order for eight centuries.