Falacrine


Falacrine was a village of Ancient Rome that was the birthplace of the emperor Vespasian.

Location

The location of Falacrine has been the subject of debate. The village is described as lying just beyond Reate, in the Sabine hill country northeast of Rome. According to local tradition before the 16th century, it was on the site of the castle of Alatri, between Greccio and Contigliano. However local historian Mariano Vittori believed that Falacrine lay near Cittareale, in the province of Rieti. Latini found ruins in Collicelle, a frazione of Cittareale that he thought were Falacrine. However, in Amatrice it's believed that Falacrine lies in the frazione of Torrita, above the valley of the same name. Others have suggested that it lies in Antrodoco, Rieti or Paganico Sabino.
In 2009 archaeologists unearthed a large first-century villa near Cittareale that they identified as Falacrine.