• Casa Natale di Padre Pio - Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione, came into the world in Pietrelcina, a small town near Benevento, on May 25, 1887. His parents were Grazio (known as “Orazio”) Maria Forgione and Maria Giuseppa (known as “Peppa”) of Nunzio. The house where Padre Pio was born, known as Zì Grazio’s house, is located at Vico Storto Valle 27 in Pietrelcina. It consists of a single room, accessed by three external steps. To the right upon entering, there is a night table and a wrought iron double bed. Opposite the four-glazed window is a well-used washbasin and an old chest. A square table covered with a faded carpet, stacked with books used by Padre Pio during his school days with Master Caccavo, stands nearby. A modestly framed photograph sent to his mother by a young lady from San Giovanni Rotondo is also present.

To the left of the entrance, another chest and two chairs complete the room’s furnishings. On the wall above the bed’s headboard are four lithographs of Madonnas and two Crucifixes. A trap door in the floor leads to a lower room used as a warehouse and donkey barn, which can also be accessed through an external door on the side of the house. From a young age, Francesco felt a strong desire to dedicate himself entirely to God, setting him apart from his peers. His mother, Peppa, often remarked, “He never disobeyed, never acted out, always obeyed me and his father. Every morning and evening, he went to church to visit Jesus and the Madonna. He never played outside with his companions. Sometimes I would tell him, ‘Francì, go out and play a little.’ He would refuse, saying, ‘I don’t want to go because they blaspheme.’”

• San Giovanni Rotondo - In the Gargano region of Puglia, amidst natural beauty and charming villages, lies one of Italy’s most significant places of faith: San Giovanni Rotondo. Here stands the Shrine of Padre Pio, attracting millions of faithful each year. The sanctuary features prefabricated pillars, vibrant mosaics with iridescent colors, and polychrome stained glass with sharp, sometimes abstract designs. Unlike older sanctuaries filled with stuccos and frescoes, this place exudes a strong and clear sense of faith.

• San Giovanni Rotondo - Ascending the stairways from the square to the town, you reach another square overlooking the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the convent complex where Padre Pio lived. The old and new churches, both dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie, stand close together. The new church was built at the friar’s request to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims visiting him. On the lower floor is the sarcophagus where the friar was buried, which held his remains from his death in 1968 until 2008, when his body was moved to the crystal case in the new sanctuary.

• Bottled water
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Parking
• Fuel
• Tolls

• Tips are not included - meals and anything else that may be considered extra

The journey to Puglia leads to a town in the province of Foggia, attracting 6 million visitors annually. This is largely due to St. Pius, who lived and performed good deeds here. A beloved yet controversial figure, he is undeniably a significant figure in the history of Catholicism over the past century. His legacy is expected to endure for decades, if not centuries. This small town in the Gargano has seen its tourism flourish thanks to his remarkable presence. In San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio spent most of his life, carrying out his works. While the faithful seek miracles, even skeptics cannot deny the impact this humble Capuchin friar has had on the masses. A remarkable personality. Whether one is a believer or not, the cult of San Pio offers a wonderful reason to visit this charming village, one of those that can only be truly appreciated when choosing to holiday in Italy.

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