Touristic Routes San Giovanni Rotondo

Church of St. Onofrio

Built during the XIII century, the Church of St. Onofrio has today a beautiful Gothic portal framed by a facade built with tufo stones.

Unfortunately, during the sixteenth century, the Church was victim of a huge fire that destroyed much of the original building. The restoration that followed the fire could not give the Church its ancient appearance.

In 1857, a new fire destroys the building. The Municipality decided then to turn it into a storage for unused materials. Only in 1885, the building is transformed into a hospital in order to give shelter to the beggars.

In 1957, the Church is proclaimed parish.

The Rotonda and the Church of St. Giovanni Battista

The Rotunda has all the traits of a typical Gargano house ( trullo or pagghiare). The building of this temple, once devoted to Janus, dates back to the III - II century BC.

The renovation works made at a later time led to the building of the Church of St. Giovanni Battista: despite being adjacent to the Rotonda, the building doesn't have its distinctive features.

On the contrary, it reflects the Byzantine style, which is typical of the time when it was built up.

The monument by Pericle Fazzini devoted to Padre Pio

The sculptor made this monument trying to remain as faithful as possible to the image of Padre Pio, a monk who dedicated his whole life to the people, especially those most in need of support and care. For this reason the statue was placed at a transit point in San Giovanni Rotondo, so that people could touch it, go near it, and take pictures.

Padre Pio's open arms aim at the sky. In the hands there are clear signs of the stigmata, on his face an expression of serene acceptance of God's will.

The monument was inaugurated on the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Padre Pio, on the 28th  of July 1997.

The Convent of the Minor Cappuccini Friars

It was the home of Padre Pio and the place where he was given his divine mission.

To the inhabitants of San Giovanni Rotondo, the monastery has a strong emotional significance, since it was built and restored several times at the expense of the community.

Crypt of Padre Pio

Here lie the remains of Padre Pio, who, in 1923, asked the mayor of San Giovanni Rotondo, Francesco Morcaldi, to have his bones placed in a quiet corner of this land.

New Church of Padre Pio

Built on a land not far from town, the New Church of Padre Pio was designed by the renowned architect Renzo Piano and seems ideally projected towards the horizon that the eyes of the Blessed peer into.

Biographical museum of the waxes of Padre Pio

Opened in 2001, it presents ten salient episodes from the life of Padre Pio.

For more information: www.museopadrepio.it.
For further information about the life of Padre Pio and the value that the community of San Giovanni Rotondo ascribes to his figure: www.padrepio.it