Poggio Bustone, Medieval commune in Province of Rieti, Italy
Poggio Bustone is a medieval commune in the Province of Rieti, set within the wooded slopes of the Reatine Mountains in northeastern Lazio. Stone buildings cling to the hillside, forming narrow lanes that wind between convents, chapels and residential houses.
Francis of Assisi arrived here in 1208 with six companions and founded the first Franciscan convent in this area. During the following century monks expanded the hermitage and created a spiritual refuge in the mountains above the valley of Rieti.
Locals still refer to the place using the phrase buon giorno buona gente, echoing the saint's greeting to their ancestors. Today residents honor this connection through processions along the steep paths linking the village to the hermitage above.
Several marked trails lead uphill from the village center to the hermitage and the grotto of revelations above. The climb follows mainly stairs and steep paved sections that may prove challenging for those with limited mobility.
A small grotto above the convent marks the spot where the saint reportedly received absolution for his sins. Pilgrims often leave small stones or notes at the entrance as tokens of their intentions.
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