San Giovanni Rotondo lies in a valley in the heart of the Gargano, at the foot of Monte Calvo, and was founded by the ancient inhabitants of Castelpirgiano. It owes its name (which roughly translates as Circular St. John) to an ancient temple of Janus, which was circular and on which a small church was later built and dedicated to St. John the Baptist of the Longobards.
The town is now inseparably associated with the figure of Father Pio and its current fame is due to the Saint. His greatest miracle, which not even the greatest sceptics can deny, is there for everyone to see: the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza hospital, a jewel in the crown of Italian private medical care and a state-of-the-art establishment both in research and the treatment of illnesses.
The historic centre of the town is full of towers dating from the era of Frederick II. Strolling through its streets you will come across numerous churches, including the Church of St. Joseph the Craftsman (San Giuseppe Artigiano), the Church of St. Nicholas (San Nicola), with its beautiful copper doors depicting episodes from the life of St. Nicholas, the Church of St. Catherine (Santa Caterina) (the oldest in the town), the Church of St. Leonard (San Leonardo), which is the main church in San Giovanni Rotondo and has a beautiful statue of St. Michael Archangel over its door, the Church of St. Ursula (Sant'Orsola), full of history and recently restored, the Church of the Madonna of Loreto, which faithfully reproduces the dimensions of Jesus' birthplace in Bethlehem, the Church of St. Onuphrius (Sant'Onofrio) and finally the ancient Church of St. John the Baptist (San Giovanni Battista) from the third to second century BC. In addition to the churches and their undeniable historical interest, there are archaeological remains worth seeing in the ancient towns of Sant'Egidio and La Curvara.
Not to be missed:
- the Churches in the historic centre of the town (Church of St. Mary of the Graces (Santa Maria delle Grazie), the small Church of St. John the Baptist (San Giovanni Battista Rotonda), the Church of St. Onuphrius (Sant'Onofrio), the Church of St. Ursula (Sant'Orsola) and the Church of St. Nicholas (San Nicola));
- the remains of the town walls with their towers from the era of Frederick II;
- the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza;
- the monumental Stations of the Cross built by Francesco Messina in granite and bronze;
- the monument to Father Pio by Pericle Fazzini;
- Father Pio's shrine designed by Renzo Piano;
- the altar and cross in the shrine, both created by Arnaldo Pomodoro;