Poggio Bustone

Poggio Bustone, a picturesque village clinging to the slope of a mountain with views of the Holy Valley of Rieti, is one of the most luminous and significant stages of the Via di Francesco. It was here that Saint Francis, upon arriving with his first companions, greeted them with the words "Buon giorno, buona gente!" ("Good morning, good people!"). And it was in an upper cave, the Sacro Speco, where, after a period of doubt, an angel confirmed to him that his sins had been forgiven and that his mission to preach the Gospel would be universal. Hence, Poggio Bustone is the sanctuary of forgiveness and the beginning of the mission. For the pilgrim, the journey to the higher hermitages is both a physical and spiritual ascent, rewarded with breathtaking views and a deep sense of peace. The sanctuary preserves the footprints of the saint. It is a stop that conveys joy and hope, a place for renewing one's purpose on the path and feeling part of "the good people" to whom Francis greeted them.