You can reach the Church of Santa Maria del Piano going to the main street (Via Licinese) by car and then walk along the white road or, if you like, you can walk all along the way.
The origin of the Church of Santa Maria del Piano should date back to the 9th century AD. and should have been founded following a victory of the army of the Emperor Charlemagne over the Saracens in the adjacent plain, to thank the Virgin Mary for her help.
A rich Benedictine Abbey linked to the powerful Abbey of Farfa had developed around the church, but starting from the 16th century a long phase of decline and abandonment began in which the site was frequented only for some celebrations and rural customs.
Until the 1970s the church was located in the territory of Pozzaglia, but it was under the control of Orvinio, then it became state property.
The church had a Latin cross plan with a semicircular apse. The bell tower is still standing and is characterized by multiple levels of triple lancet windows. It is still possible to observe traces of the old convent, but in general the situation of the building is critical and important finds such as the rose window of the central tympanum have been stolen.
For more information: http://www.bollettinodarte.beniculturali.it/opencms/multimedia/BollettinoArteIt/documents/1344607784988_02_-_Lorenzo_Fiocca_p._405.pdf
Rio Petescia waterfalls
If you continue past the Church of Santa Maria del Piano, walking along the paths that cross the pastures, you will come across the Rio Petescia. We follow its course to get to the waterfalls. Sometimes you need to change banks, but the fords are easy, even the path is often blocked by vegetation, but with a little patience and a good stick, you can pass. However, the difficult route is worth it because you finally reach a wonderful and wild waterfall about 4/5 meters high. You can swim in the pool below around July-August, even if the water is very cold.
You can go back on dirt roads and paths that rejoin the outward path, just before the abbey.
