San Giovanni Rotondo

History: The friary of San Giovanni Rotondo was founded in 1540, wanted unanimously by the people and with the permission of Cardinal Giovanni Maria of Monte San Sabino, the Archbishop of Manfredonia. The land was donated by Orazio Antonio Landi and contained a small country domicile with a well, typical of the Puglia, and  still existent today. This friary was for many years the centre for the difficult and austere novitiate that is necessary in the Capuchin way of life. It was in this friary that the conversion of St. Camillo De Lellis began and matured after his journey from San Giovanni Rotondo to Manfredonia through what is known as the Valley of Hell. This friary, like many others, suffered under the wave of suppression during the decade of French rule.

On 14 August 1808, the governing commission made up of the Mayor Giovanni Verna, Francescantonio Ventrella, the Parish Priest  Nicolo Cascavilla and witnesses Michele Carrabba, Costanzo Fraticelli and Vincenzo D’Errico, drew up  an inventory of  the whole friary and church property. The signed inventory was consigned to Fr.  Francesco Maria of Rodi, the Superior of the friary. The suppression took place on 4 July 1811.

On that day the responsible authorities  for  the suppression, Francescantonio Ventrella and Salvatore Cafaro summoned the community and the Superior Fr.  Giovanni Maria of Monte Sant’ Angelo and proceeded with the drawing up a new inventory. The friars assisted this procedure in  tears. On 8 October 1811, these friars were brusquely ordered to leave the friary within four days.  On 7 February 1812, the friary was invaded by ‘a band of well armed assassins’. The mayor, to prevent this from happening again, asked the intendant to allow some of the former Capuchin friars, also priests, to act as caretakers of the friary and church. The friary was reopened in 1816 and closed again in 1866, during the Italian Masonic government. On 16 June 1886, the friary was put up for sale by the  State. In 1909, the friary was reopened and in 1925, was given to the friars in perpetual lease. In 1952, the friary was enlarged. In 1959, the  Our Lady of Grace Church, designed by the architect Giuseppe Gentile of Boiano  was inaugurated. On 1 July 2004,  the new church dedicated to St. Pio of Pietrelcina and designed by the architect Renzo Piano was inaugurated.

For information about guided tours in the places of Padre Pio you can contact the Office for Pilgrims (phone +39.0882.417500 – email info@santuariopadrepio.it)