Hospital Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza
The House for the Relief of Suffering in San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia) is a health care facility established and inaugurated on May 5, 1956 Padre Pio. Founded as a private hospital of 250 beds, has obtained the first legal recognition in 1971 as a foundation of religion and religious nonprofit. He later assumed the title of Provincial Hospital and then to the Regional General Hospital, a measure that led to the inclusion in the National Health System. The legal nature of the Hospital is a private entity owned by the Holy See, which thus provides a public service. Today it is recognized as an Institute for Hospitalization and Care Scientific and activities as well as clinical and care, working closely with the Ministry of Health, and the most important centers of Italian and European research, is also involved in clinical research, particularly in the field of genetics and hereditary disease-family members. The classification as a scientific institute was the official recognition and the completion of the operational thinking of the founder who, in his inspired design had sensed, in the mid-twentieth century, that research must be part of professional doctors in general, particularly those of the "Home", and an active part of scientific progress.
Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie convent and Padre Pio
The church of Santa Maria delle Grazie convent and Padre Pio in 1538 began work for the people of San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia) with the approval of the Bishop of Siponto Cardinal Giovanni Maria di Monte San Savino (Pope Julius III). On 1 February 1557 hosted San Camillo de Lellis. The arrival at the convent of San Giovanni Rotondo, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina is dated July 28, 1916. The Ancient Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie: In 1540 construction began on its construction that ended July 5, 1676. Designed by architect Giuseppe Gentile Boiano (CB), works for the construction of the church began July 2, 1956. The consecration took place on July 1, 1959 (the same day of the inauguration - in 2004 - the new church of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, designed by Renzo Piano). The next day, July 2, 1959, Cardinal Federico Tedeschini the mosaic of the Virgin crowned with the title of "Madonna delle Grazie".
The new church with the crypt of Padre Pio
The church of Padre Pio is a church located in San Giovanni Rotondo commissioned by the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin province of Foggia and designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano to hold worthy of the thousands of pilgrims who arrive every year to honor the memory of San Pio of Pietrelcina. The work was financed almost entirely from the offerings of pilgrims. With its 6000 sq. ft. (can hold 7000 people with an ample margin of safety) is the second largest church in Italy in size, second only to St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Description: The church is located on Mount San Giovanni Rotondo (FG) and is adjacent to the existing sanctuary and the monastery where the holy monk lived and where they were the remains. The structure has a shape reminiscent of the nautilus, and its plan recalls the Archimedean spiral, whose focus is on the liturgical center of the hall, the place where the altar is placed.
The Upper: The upper church is divided into three areas: the liturgical hall, chapel and sacristy of the Eucharist. Nave: The nave is divided into three naves, it has a floor equal to the square, resulting in a continuity between the interior and exterior of the church. The chapel of the Eucharist: immediately adjacent to the classroom is the chapel of the Eucharist liturgy. Is placed inside the tabernacle built by Floriano Bodini, carved from a single block of 40 tons of Etna lava rock tiles with silver treating the theme of the Eucharist. The vestry: Latest environment of the upper church is the sacristy. It lies in that the coverage is lower, representing the beginning.
The lower church: Taking advantage of the elevation of the site, it was possible to build a church less, as was the case for the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. It is smaller collections, since its size is equal to the area above the presbytery, and is divided into several rooms including the crypt of Padre Pio, which was recently translated the remains of the saint, and the semicircular covered by a number of times that taper out from the center completely covered with gold mosaics that tell the story of the life of the saint. The connection to the upper part is made with a spiral staircase, but you can reach the lower church with a ramp or a lift. The flooring is equal to the square and the upper church.
