Greccio was the place where, in December 1223, Saint Francis of Assisi devised the first living Nativity scene (in Italian: presepe).

[6] From the remains of the ancient buildings, it shows that Greccio became a fortified medieval castle surrounded by walls and protected by a six towers fortress.

[7] In documents from the 11th century, the toponym of Greccio is cited with many variations, until 1091, when the name "Grecciae", from which the current name derives, seems to spread; the community also experiences a fair amount of development, favored by the abundance of flat arable land and good pastures.

[7] Greccio was the place where, in December 1223, Saint Francis of Assisi devised the first living Nativity scene (in Italian: presepe).

[14] The painting over its altar, and others before 1400, by Giotto at the Assisi Lower Church, and by Antonio Vite in Pistoia, depict Saint Francis kneeling and placing a small baby into a chest-like manger.

[14] His biographer, Thomas of Celano, recalls that Francis stood before the manger, overwhelmed with love and filled with a wonderful happiness.

[7] The parish church of San Michele Archangel is located next to the bell tower on top of a flight of steps and dates back to the 11th century.

Two of the side chapels, dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua and Our Lady Immaculate have paintings and frescoes of the 15th and 16th century,[15] and stucco decorations created in 1636.

[6] Remarkable from an artistic point of view are the baptismal font, the main altar, a gilded silver chalice and a monstrance, all dating back to the 16th century.

Inside the International Museum of the Crib there are nativity scenes from all the cultures of the world on display; outside it there is a statue of Saint Francis 5 metres (16 ft) high.

[18] Greccio is surrounded by oak and elm forests, on which Mount Lacerone (1,204 metres or 3,950 feet) stands out and gives a view of the entire Rieti Valley.

[22] Distances from the most important population centers:[23] Among the most traditional, widespread and renowned economic activities are artisanal ones, such as the processing and art of iron and copper.

[6] The living nativity scene recited by the local population, dressed in period clothing, is staged in front of the Sanctuary of Greccio, in memory of the historic event of 1223.

The comune of Greccio and the Franciscan sanctuary are located along the provincial road SP1,[31] a branch of the SP1 which originates in Sellecchia and reconnects to the SP1 near Spinacceto.