San Giovanni Rotondo
San Giovanni Rotondo is a city in the province of Foggia in Apulia, Italy with 27,506 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012).
After the Mexican Guadalupe and the " Eternal City" of Rome San Giovanni Rotondo is the third most visited pilgrimage site in the world. Up to seven million pilgrims travel annually there.
By San Giovanni Rotondo leads the main highway from San Severo to Monte Sant'Angelo, which is used by numerous pilgrims since the 6th century, on a pilgrimage to Michael grotto where the Archangel Michael said to have appeared.
The city's name is derived, according to legend, therefore, that the Lombards, at a round temple which was situated on the site of the present town, lined up a statue of Saint John the Baptist (John the Baptist ), their patron. However, it is more likely the establishment of a baptistery, in the early period often rotunda, under the patronage of John the Baptist.
One of the best known citizens of San Giovanni Rotondo was the much revered and canonized Padre Pio now. Still, many of the faithful flock daily to the crypt of the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie to pray at his tomb and to visit the cell in which he lived. 2004, the great pilgrimage church of San Pio da Pietrelcina was completed.
Twinning
- Italy Pietrelcina, Italy, since 2005
- Poland Wadowice, Poland, since 2006
- Germany Marktl, Germany, since 2009
- Italy Bari, Italy, since 2013
- Italy Monte Sant'Angelo, Italy, since 2013
Sons and daughters of the town
- Michele Pirro ( born 1986 ), motorcycle racer