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Just you are arriving to Pietrelcina, you immediately can see that the little town is placed on a hill called: “La Morgia” made of calcareous rock. Padre Pio loved “La Morgia” very much because it rappresented not only his youth but also his strong temper so when a countryman went to S. Giovanni Rotondo to visit Padre Pio, he said ”Give my regards to “the Morgia”.
The first places that the visitors can admire are the Church of the Holy Family, the Monastery and Pilgrim’s home.
They’re in a zone called “Gregaria” because in this place the young Padre Pio while walked with archpriest Salvatore Pannullo, listened to a chorus of angels who sang and bells that played to extended.
Arrived at Pietrelcina running along Viale Cappuccini, on the left, there is a shady avenue. At the end there’s the Church of the Holy Family with the adjacent convent in which there’s a Museum dedicated to “Padre Pio”. According to the wishes of “Padre Pio”, the Church is dedicated to the “Saint Family”. The construction of church was started on May 24, 1928 but was finished only on May 19, 1951 when was consecrated. Near the church there’re a convent and in it a museum dedicated to the “Great Pietrelcinese”. The museum houses some original photos, consecrated subjects, clothes, books and other relics of Padre Pio including his blood stained tunic.
In front of the convent, in a fresh garden, there's the first monument of Padre Pio. The work, of the sculptor Danilo Andreose, shows a smiling “Padre Pio” together three young friars that show him the relief map of the new Seminary. It was inaugurated on 6 September 1971.
Recently has been inaugurated the Pilgrim’s home. It was built to receive the pilgrims who come from every part of the world. The works were constructed tanks to Mary Pyle, a spiritual daughter of Padre Pio and rich benefactress who wanted to built by own money.
Starting from “Saint Family” Church, and walking by “viale Cappuccini”, we'll arrive at "SS. Annunziata square": the center of Pietrelcina. In this square there's the Parish church "S. Maria degli Angeli", a Mother Church. Once called the Church of the Annunziata, was renamed and became a parish church in 1843. On August 14,1910, four days after his ordination, Padre Pio celebrated his first mass here and baptized, the first time, a baby, Ermenegildo Masone, that will be a priest later.
In this church is honoured the patron of Pietrelcina, the Madonna della Libera. The statue is made of wood in style of old Neapolitan craftsmanship. It was crowned with a golden tiara on August 6, 1966. In December of 1854 it is believed that Our Lady saved the town from a devastating cholera outbreak, which had already claimed many lives.
Now we leave “S. Annunziata square”, and go, by a lane, to “Porta Madonnella”, placed at the beginning of a slope which introduces to the oldest quarter of Pietrelcina: the “Castle”.
“Porta Madonnella” has three characteristic panels composed some ceramics's forms. The panels mean three pictures: In the center of these ones is depicted Our Lady: "Madonna Incoronata". On the right of her another picture depicts S. Anthony: "S. Antonio of Padova" in his classic pose, while embraces the Children Jesus lovely. On the left, indeed, there’s a picture of S. Michael: "S. Michele Arcangelo" which squashes the head of the serpent.
Many times the little "Francesco Forgione" passed by this place to go to “Piana Romana” or recited the rosary with the people of the village.
Now we leave “Porta Madonnella”, for going up to the “Borgo Castello”. This is the place which listened the wailings of Padre Pio and saw the little Francesco Forgione to grow up. The stones, the houses, the stairs, the little squares and the lanes remember the childhood of "Francesco Forgione". It was on one of these lanes, “Vico Storto Valle” that was born Francesco Forgione. In this byroad there’re three important places: the Little Tower: "Torretta", the Kitchen: "Cucina" and the native house: “casa natale”. These ones remember the life that Padre Pio spent here. The first is the “Torretta” which means “little tower” because it's like a little turret between the ground and the sky. In 1909 "Padre Pio" come back from the convent, because was ill and took up residence in the little tower, a room with only a bed, a little table, and very little else. Here he lived deeply his wonderful relation with God. This is where Padre Pio would write his letters to his spiritual directors. Here is also where he began to fight the devils every night and day.
Jesus, Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. Francis, appeared him in this room.
After having left the “Torretta” we are arriving at the “native house of Padre Pio”. Here, Francesco Forgione was born in the 25 May 1887. In this house there’s only one room where Padre Pio sleeped with his parents. After some years he went to sleep in the “kitchen”, the “Cucina”. This is a small two-room house used by the Forgione Family as kitchen and dining room. In these rooms Padre Pio begins to live his supernatural experiences. He sees the Virgin Mary, the Guardian Angel, Saint Francesco, and so on. Here he meets the devils and begins to combat them.
After having left the two houses of the little and young "Francesco Forgione", we are going now, through a flight of steps, to S. Anna Church. It's the highest place of the “Castello”. Before entering into the church, we can admire the wonderful and green hills placed around Pietrelcina. In the church, we see a baptistery on the left. This is the baptistery where Francesco Forgione was baptisted in 26 may 1887.
The S. Anna Church is the oldest church in town, built in 13th century and one of the most important places of the spiritual itinerary of "Padre Pio". In this Church, Jesus appears him when he's five years old. Here Francesco spends many hours of his day. Here he often sees the Virgin Mary and the Guardian Angel too. Here the future Padre Pio often celebrates his Masses. After the church of S. Anna we can visit the house of Padre Pio. Here, he lives since 1910 till 17 February 1916. The house is situated above a flight of steps. Going into the house, we see a first room on the left. The room of Padre Pio is in the back. This is another important place of the mystic itinerary of Padre Pio.
In this house The friar combats the devils. It's a physical and spiritual fight in which Padre Pio is plagued by the devils which tempt it. Father Pio suffers many torments and discouragements. This house becomes a place of supernatural apparitions. Jesus appears to Father Pio so many times. Also the Virgin Mary appears to him. Padre Pio sees his Guardian Angel every day and he often invokes his spiritual friend during his fights to the devils. Padre Pio has wonderful dialogues with his Guardian Angel and sends him to complete some spiritual missions toward his spiritual daughters.
Finished the visit to the centre of Pietrelcina we can go down and, after Porta Madonnella on the right we arrive at “Pantaniello”. This is a fascinating area in the old part of the town which Padre Pio would walk through on his way to the farm in “Piana Romana”. The road that Padre Pio walked to go to Piana Romana is called “Via del Rosario” because Padre Pio during his way recited the Rosary. Today many pilgrims walk on this road reciting the Rosary.
“Piana Romana” is placed after some kilometres from Pietrelcina and is surrounded by a mildly green wavy scenery. Here Padre Pio worked as shepherd
Padre Pio always comes here to breathe the healthy air of the country and feels, near mummy Peppa, the joy of the life and the contemplation of the nature. In a little hut, built by the cousins, Padre Pio loves to study, to pray, to meditate, while his parents are working the land. A Piana Romana the pilgrims can visit the “masseria”. The farmhouse has only one room with a bare stone floor. Besides being a storage place for their tools, the house was used for sleeping. The fireplace, still well preserved, was gathering place for the family recitation of the Rosary. When it was very hot, Padre Pio took refuge in a little hut near a tree of “Olmo”. It was here that Padre Pio received the first signs of the passion. Near the elm there’s a “Seggiolone”. This is the name that Padre Pio gave to two unmovable stones near the little hut. Now, in place of the little hut, there’s the Chapel of St. Francesco. The building plans for this chapel began in 1958 because of the interest of Padre Pio’s friend: Mercurio Scocca. Today a lots of pilgrims went to Piana Romana to listen to mass
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