Leonessa, town and comune (township) in the far northeastern part of the Province of Rieti in the Lazio region of Italy. Its population in 2003 was 2700.
Situated in a small plain at the foot of Mt. Terminillo, one of the highest mountains of the Apennine range, in the winter Leonessa is known mostly as a low-key staging center for the ski slopes of the Terminillo, and in the summer as a weekend vacation town frequented for the most part by Romans with local roots.
For its size, however, Leonessa is also an outstanding art city of primarily medieval aspect, with two beautiful large Gothic churches, a number of smaller churches, and a particularly attractive main square. Historically, the town is known mostly as the birthplace of St. Giuseppe di Leonessa .
Monuments
- church of S. Pietro
- church of S. Francesco
- church and sanctuary of S. Giuseppe di Leonessa
- church of S. Maria del Popolo
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