Rita and I visited Rieti, Italy in June, 2024 to meet my cousins, Mario D'Angelo, his daughter, Paola D'Angelo, and her son, Giancpaolo Proietti. My mother's maiden name was D'Angelo, and Mario's grandfather and my grandfather were brothers, both born in Pratoianni, Italy, up above Rieti in the Sabine Mountains (see Pratoianni video I posted on this channel previously). I found Paola on Facebook when I was searching for D'Angelo family members who were still living in Italy, and we agreed to meet each other during Rita and my trip to Italy in June. They fell in love with us, and us with them. La famiglia è il tesoro più grande!
Rieti, a picturesque town in central Italy’s Lazio region, sits atop a hill overlooking the fertile Rieti Valley, bordered by the Sabine Hills and the Monti Reatini. Its elevated position offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, enhancing the town's scenic beauty. The valley was once dominated by a vast lake, which was drained by the ancient Romans to transform the area into a fertile plain suitable for agriculture. Today, the Velino River bisects this valley, with only the smaller Ripasottile and Lungo lakes remaining from the ancient lake. This geographical transformation was pivotal in shaping Rieti’s development and its role in the region.
Rieti’s history extends back to the Iron Age, with legends attributing its founding to the deity Rea. In antiquity, Reate, as it was known, was a prominent city within the Sabine nation, long before the establishment of Rome. According to Roman accounts, Reate played a crucial role in early Roman expansion and was strategically significant due to its location along the Via Salaria, the ancient salt route linking Rome with the Adriatic Sea. Following its conquest by the Roman general Manius Curius Dentatus in the early third century BC, Reate was transformed through extensive drainage projects that converted the lake into arable land, fostering its growth into a thriving Roman settlement with advanced infrastructure.
During Roman times, Reate was noted for its well-planned urban layout, including fortifications, a stone bridge over the Velino River, and a large viaduct to facilitate trade. The town was integral to the Roman road network and benefitted from fertile soil, which Cicero and other Roman writers praised. Roman Reate was strategically positioned, dominating the salt trade and becoming an important cultural and economic hub. Its integration into the Roman Empire included the granting of citizenship to the Sabines and the development of Roman-style urban amenities, which bolstered its prominence.
In the medieval period, Rieti faced numerous challenges but remained an important center of influence. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the town suffered destruction by various invading forces, including the Barbarians and Saracens. Despite these setbacks, it thrived as a gastaldate under Lombard rule and later became a free commune in 1198. Rieti's significance was highlighted by several key events during this era, including the marriage of Constance of Hauteville to Emperor Henry VI and the canonization of St. Dominic by Pope Gregory IX. The town’s role as a Papal seat further cemented its importance in medieval European history.
In the later Middle Ages and beyond, Rieti continued to be a focal point of historical developments. After the Papal seat was moved to Avignon, Rieti experienced further political and social upheavals, including its conquest by the King of Naples and subsequent recovery by Cardinal Albornoz. By the 19th century, it became the provincial capital of the Papal States, and later, after the unification of Italy, was incorporated into Lazio in 1923. The town’s historical journey reflects its enduring significance from ancient times through modern Italian history, highlighting its rich cultural and historical heritage that continues to be a source of pride for its residents today.
Негізгі бет 2024 - Frank & Rita Barbieri. Gianpaolo Proietti, Mario & Paola D'Angelo, Rietti 6-29-24 FAB03031950
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