I went for a walk after dinner last night along the banks of the Velino River that runs through Rieti. At night, the ruins of the Roman bridge become a popular roosting spot.

The ruins of the Roman ridge at Rieti
The Velino River at Rieti.

I was going to get a panino from the supermarket but I was too early and nothing was open. There’s an old pilgrim saying, ‘the road will provide’ ( lunch in this case ) and so it was to be.

Today’s walk starts out almost flat. I walked up the ever narrowing valley of the little Turano River. Luckily there was a track, as the road was very busy.

The path split off this busy road and continued along quiet country roads .

This is actually an aqueduct and is the main water supply of Rome.

I’m so absent minded that I’m always missing turnoffs. I’ve been using Wikiloc which beeps when I’ve gone the wrong way. This turn had 3 signs including the big round one and still I missed it.

After about 10km, the path changes dramatically. Ahead are the hills I have to climb.

Here’s a profile of today’s walk to give you an idea.

I found it tough going. There was a continuous steep climb up almost 400 metres over about 3km. I stopped regularly to let my heart slow down a bit. To make it more difficult, there were lots of loose slippery stones.

Photos never do justice to difficult paths.

When I got to the very top, I found that there was a little town there! Somehow this hadn’t registered when I read the days’s description in the guidebook last night.

The pretty little town of Belmonte in Sabina
Lunch with a view.

There was a sign mentioning that stamps for pilgrim credenziali or “passports” were available at a house nearby. I met Doria who runs a pay by donation hostel here. It would be a pleasant place to stop.

My credenziale after 6 days.

It wasn’t far then to my destination of Rocca Sinibalda. The old part of town comprises houses clinging to the edge of the huge castle.

It was first built in 1084 and has incredible views up and down the valley I had walked up. In 1539, the Medici Pope Leone X gave the castle to his friend Cardinal Alessandro Cesarini who employed architect Baldassare Peruzzi to redesign it.

The castle ‘tails’.

It is said to resemble an eagle with a beak at one end and tails at the other. It’s been fully restored but only open to group tours.

One of the ‘tails’ of the castle of Rocca Sinibalda.

An old church with a collapsed roof still has some bright frescoes. The locals are hoping for funding to repair it.

The rock forms part of the structure of some houses.
The view from my bedroom window .

Tomorrow I have a ‘rest day’ with a relatively short 14km walk to Castel di Tora.