The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, together with the adjoining convent, is one of the most important places of worship in Apulia and represents a key destination for contemporary spirituality. It was here that Padre Pio of Pietrelcina lived for many years, from 1916 until his death, making this complex a destination for pilgrims from all over the world.

The origins of the building date back to the 16th century: construction of the old church and the convent began in 1538 at the behest of the village’s inhabitants, with the approval of the Bishop of Siponto. Work continued for over a century, until its completion in 1676. This first church, simple and intimate, has a rectangular plan with a sober façade, enhanced by a portal with a frescoed lunette, a small rose window and a bell gable. The interior, with a single nave, is in Baroque style and houses four side chapels dedicated to various saints, as well as a high altar featuring an image of the Madonna and Child flanked by St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist.

The adjacent convent houses some of the most significant spaces associated with the life of Padre Pio. Among these, his cell – which can now be visited – and the choir of the old church stand out; it was here that the friar received the stigmata, an event that had a profound impact on popular devotion. The saint’s body was once kept in the crypt, before being transferred to the nearby sanctuary designed by Renzo Piano.

In the 20th century, with the constant increase in pilgrims, it became necessary to build a larger church. Designed by the architect Giuseppe Gentile, work on the new church began in 1956 and was completed in 1959. The building has a rectangular plan with three naves and a gabled façade punctuated by loggias and portals. Inside, characterised by the use of green marble, the red marble altar stands out, featuring a mosaic of Our Lady of Grace with the Child, beneath which Padre Pio is depicted ascending.

The complex of Santa Maria delle Grazie is today a place where history, architecture and faith are deeply intertwined. Here, between the old and the new church, one can still sense the living presence of Padre Pio and the intense bond between the saint and the community of San Giovanni Rotondo.