San Giovanni Rotondo
San Giovanni Rotondo is a town in the province of Foggia in the Italian region of Apulia (Puglia).
Understand[edit]
San Giovanni Rotondo is the home town of Saint Pio (Padre Pio of Pietrelcina). Although the stigmatist friar was born in Pietrelcina in the region of Campania, he made San Giovanni Rotondo his home.
Get in[edit]
By train[edit]
San Giovanni Rotondo cannot be reached by train. The closest train stations are in Foggia (40 km away) and San Severo (26 km away).
By bus[edit]
The “Ferrovie del Gargano” bus connects San Giovanni Rotondo with Northern Italy; from Southern Italy it is recommended to take the “Interbus” lines.
By car[edit]
San Giovanni Rotondo is located along the road leading from San Severo to Monte Sant'Angelo.
Get around[edit]
It is a short walk between the basilica and the Santa Maria delle Grazie Church. It is also possible to walk to the Way of the Cross.
See[edit]
One of the most visited sights in San Giovanni Rotondo is the Sanctuary of Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, which includes the Capuchins convent and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This building with lovely stained glass and marble archways is the final resting place of Padre Pio: visitors can view his relics in the lower area of the church.
Close to the monastery is the Padre Pio Wax Museum that contains historical information about the region as well as mosaics that depict the life of Padre Pio.
Several other places of the life of Padre Pio can be visited as well, such as the new church dedicated to Padre Pio, the Way of the Cross, Mary Pyle’s house where his parents lived or the saint’s car.
- 1 Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Santuario di San Pio da Pietrelcina), info@santuariopadrepio.it. Also known as the Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church, it contains the tomb with the incorrupt body of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
- Convent of the Friars Minor Capuchin (Convento dei Frati Minori Cappuccini). Convent where Padre Pio lived and died. Includes the conventual cell of the stigmatist friar and a small museum dedicated to the Saint.
- Church-Shrine of Saint Mary of Graces (Chiesa-Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie). New church of the Franciscan Capuchin Friars community of San Giovanni Rotondo.
- The Old Church (La Chiesa antica). Old church where Padre Pio celebrated the Holy Mass and which owns the original icon of Our Lady of Graces.
- The Monumental Way of the Cross (Via Crucis Monumentale). This monumental Way of the Cross is placed on the descent of the mountain towards the convent. It is made of granite and bronze. Green area of pine forest makes it ideal for praying because it is quiet and surrounded by nature, in religious meditation. Figures are very beautiful and expressive, especially the fifth station, where Padre Pio who helps Jesus to carry his own cross as the Cyrenean is depicted.
- Wax Museum of Padre Pio (Museo delle Cere di Padre Pio), Via Pirgiano, 25, ☏ +39 0882 459728. Museum with wax figures representing the life of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina.
- Monastery of the Resurrection (Monastero della Resurrezione), Contrada Macchione, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo FG, ☏ +39 0882 454429. This monastery is a conventual complex of the cloistered Capuchin Poor Clare Sisters. The Church of the Resurrection is considered the "center of prayer" of the Monastery. It was also built an extensive and capacious auditorium in order to organize seminars and conferences.
Do[edit]
For Catholics visiting San Giovanni Rotondo as a pilgrimage, there are several masses daily at the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. Also pray along the Monumental Way of the Cross located on the side of the hill.
Buy[edit]
The streets around the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina are lined with shops that sell church-related items (rosaries, statues of Padre Pio, etc). The Sanctuary itself has a shop as well (also available online here). With several masses each day at the Basilica and at the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, there shouldn't be a problem finding a priest to bless the rosaries after you purchase them.
You can also made a subscription of The Voice of Padre Pio magazine and support the Friars Minor Capuchin work in spreading the message and spirituality of Saint Pio. After that you may receive the magazine directly in your home. It consists of 11 numbers per year with articles by some of the top Catholic Italian journalists.
Eat[edit]
Drink[edit]
Sleep[edit]
In San Giovanni Rotondo visitors can choose from 120 accommodation facilities.
- 1 Padre Pio Spiritual Center (Centro di Spiritualità Padre Pio), Via Anna Frank, 18, ☏ +39 0882 418094, fax: +39 0882 418087, info@centrospiritualepadrepio.it. The Padre Pio Spiritual Center includes 1 hotel, 2 restaurants, 4 conference halls, 1 auditorium, 2 chapels near the Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
- 2 Gran Paradiso Hotel (Hotel Gran Paradiso), Viale Aldo Moro, 125, ☏ +39 0882 454894, fax: +39 0882 452846, info@hotelgranparadiso.it. Style, elegance, comfort and hospitality in San Giovanni Rotondo.
- Hotel Sollievo, Viale Cappuccini, 129, ☏ +39 0882 456134, fax: +39 0882 451852, info@hotelsollievo.it. In the heart of San Giovanni Rotondo, situated just 200 meters far from the new Basilica of Saint Pio.
- Hotel San Pio, Via Cappuccini, 115, ☏ +39 0882 454921, info@hotelsanpio.com. At only 100 meters from the Convent of Padre Pio.
- 3 Hotel Valle Rossa, Via San Filippo Neri, 28, ☏ +39 0882 457906, info@vallerossa.com. The hotel is situated only 800 metres from the hospital Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza and from the church-shrine of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
- 4 Hotel Vittoria, Via Santa Vittoria, 4, ☏ +39 0882 452951, info@hotelvittoria.org. Hotel and restaurant close to the shrine of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina.
Go next[edit]
- Monte Sant'Angelo – where is located the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel.
- Vatican – the Vatican City is the world center of Catholicism.
- Fátima – place of worldwide famous Marian apparitions.