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The Porta del Buongiorno: St Francis's greeting carved in stone
"Buongiorno, buona gente!" — "Good morning, good people!" Imagine arriving in a village and being welcomed by these words, more than by a person, by the very history of the place. In Poggio Bustone, this is no mere dream: it is the very essence of the Porta del Buongiorno, the ancient village gateway.
This gate, with its elegant and slender pointed Gothic arch, is far more than a simple monument — it is the village’s historical entrance. Its name is bound to one of the most beloved figures in all of Christendom. According to tradition St Francis of Assisi, passing through this very gateway during his stays in the Rieti Valley, would greet the inhabitants he met with these very words.
That simple yet powerful greeting has remained forever imprinted in the name of the gate, transforming an architectural feature into a symbol of welcome and spirituality. Even today, to pass beneath its arch is to relive a small piece of that history, and to feel oneself part of the "good people" so dear to the Saint.
The gate is an open-air monument, freely accessible at any time — a true and heartfelt welcome to all those visiting Poggio Bustone.
