Day 01
Padre Pio's Churches, Convent, and Sanctuary
- The tour itinerary includes the most significant sites: the old church, the new church, the monastery, and the new sanctuary. The old church, dating back to the mid-16th century, has a very simple facade, and its interior consists of a single nave in Baroque style.
- Then, you will visit Padre Pio's crypt, where his body was placed before it was transferred to the nearby sanctuary.
- The visit continues in the new church, built to appropriately accommodate the considerable flow of thousands of pilgrims who increasingly came to San Giovanni Rotondo. It was here that the friar celebrated Mass.
- After seeing the various objects that belonged to the friar from Pietralcina inside the convent, you will visit the cell where he lived.
- The tour ends at the Sanctuary, designed by architect Renzo Piano. It is one of the largest churches in Italy and can accommodate up to 7,200 people.
- First, you will visit the upper church, characterized by stone arches and decorations made by some of the best national artists, such as Arnaldo Pomodoro.
- You will then continue along the helical walkway with the wonderful Rupnik mosaics and visit the lower church and the crypt where Padre Pio's body rests.
