San Giovanni Rotondo

San Giovanni Rotondo is a town in the province of Foggia in the Italian region of Apulia (Puglia).

Understand
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.

By train
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
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
San Giovanni Rotondo is located along the road leading from San Severo to Monte Sant'Angelo.

Get around
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


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.



Do
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
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.

Sleep
In San Giovanni Rotondo visitors can choose from 120 accommodation facilities.



Go next

 * 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.