Arco di San Marco: New Public Monument Honors Via Francigena in Puglia

A new public monument, the Arco di San Marco, has been inaugurated in San Marco in Lamis, province of Foggia, Puglia. Designed by architect Antonio Pio Saracino, who was born in San Marco and now works in New York at APS Designs, Inc., the arch celebrates religious cult and pilgrimage tradition through a contemporary language. Commissioned by the local municipality and the Lions Club, the arch stands in Piazza Europa, the meeting point connecting axes leading to the ancient convents of Santa Maria di Stignano and San Matteo. Its design was inspired by the elegant arches found in the wells of those convents' cloisters. The arch is made of Apricena stone and features a horizontal geometry that recalls underground movements like plate tectonics and random stone formation, celebrating nature's irregularity and beauty. Saracino stated that he wanted to use a contemporary language within a deeply rooted Christian and Catholic community, seeing it as a sign of passage and change. He noted the positive public reaction and the power of public art to strengthen citizens' sense of belonging. The work serves as a symbol of pilgrimage on the Via Sacra Langobardorum-Via Francigena.