Private Tour

DA Rome Private Tour: Padre Pio and San Michele Cave

Overview

Available languages

Russian

Portuguese

English

French

Spanish

13 hours

Mobile ticket

DA Rome for a spiritual journey into the heart of Puglia. You will be picked up DA your hotel or apartment and travel in a comfortable private air-conditioned minivan, accompanied by a dedicated tour assistant.

The first stop will be the Grotto of San Michele Arcangelo in Monte Sant’Angelo, one of the oldest shrines in Christianity, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A mystical place linked to the apparitions of the Archangel Michael, it has been a DA pilgrimage destination for over a thousand years.

You will then continue to San Giovanni Rotondo to visit the Shrine of Padre Pio, one of the most important in the Catholic world. You will see the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, where Padre Pio lived and worked, with relics and his incorruptible body.

You will also visit the new DA Renzo Piano designed Church of San Pio, which houses the crypt with his remains.

You will have time to pray, reflect and have lunch before returning to Rome, bringing with you a unique spiritual and cultural experience.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Specialized infant seats are available

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Private transportation

Visit Sanctuary of St Michael the Archangel and Grotto of St Michael (Cave not wheelchair accessible)

Pick up and drop off

Assistant for the entire duration of the tour

Driver

Air-conditioned vehicle

Visit to the Shrine of Padre Pio

Lunch

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Santuario Padre Pio

The Sanctuary of San Giovanni Rotondo is an important place of worship located in the city of the same name in the province of Foggia, Puglia, mainly known for being the place of veneration of San Pio da Pietrelcina, the Capuchin friar who lived and died there in 1968. The sanctuary consists of a number of religious buildings, including the lower church, where the tomb of St. Pius is located, and the upper church, a modern structure designed by architect Renzo Piano, inaugurated in 2004. The shrine is a destination for pilgrimages from all over the world, attracted by the spirituality of St. Pius and the graces that many attribute to his intercession. Next to the church, there is also the Capuchin convent, where St. Pius lived and carried out his life of prayer and service.

4 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo

The Grotto of San Michele Arcangelo, located in Monte Sant’Angelo, in the province of Foggia, is one of the oldest and most venerated places of worship in Christianity. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cave is linked to a series of apparitions of the Archangel Michael, dating back to the fifth century, which made it one of the main pilgrimage destinations in Europe, especially during the Middle Ages. Inside, the cave retains a solemn and spiritual atmosphere, enriched DA architectural elements that have stratified over the centuries: altars, statues, inscriptions and testimonies of deep faith. The shrine has been visited DA popes, saints and millions of faithful over the centuries, and is still a symbol of devotion and mysticism today. The visit to the Grotto of San Michele offers not only an intense religious experience, but also a journey into history and art, immersed in a suggestive natural setting with a spectacular view of the Gargano.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Options

PRIVATE TOUR

Private tour: Private tour is wheelchair accessible
Access Cave of San Michele: St. Michael's Cave is included in the tour but not wheelchair accessible
Pickup included

SMALL GROUP TOUR

Tour for small groups: Small group tour is not wheelchair accessible
Access Cave of San Michele
Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

6 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Day long tour from Rome to San Giovanni Rotondo
mattsJ9905GR,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Deena and Roberto were amazing guides very knowledgeable, friendly conversation and delivered us safely and took care of our needs on our day long tour. They entertained us very well so appreciative of their efforts. We highly recommend touring with them whenever possible.
A great experience.
juliafS462YY,
Jul 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Federica and Max were great, they picked us up on time, with prefect rest stops- we had the opportunity for mass and had plenty of time to walk around, have lunch and got back to hotel at a great time. Thank you!
A dream come true with wonderful people
Stay628975,
Jun 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour guide Irene is fabulous and very knowledgeable. We will certainly recommend her. The driver, Jan Luke is also wonderful and a gentleman.
Great tour … seeing St Pio was amazing!
895pial,
Jun 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We were a family of 5 adults with one having mobility issues so we knew we needed a private tour. Stefano (guide) and Massimo (driver) picked us up on time and safely got us to and from San Giovanni Rotondo. We were not rushed and were given ample time to walk to the basilica and crypt. Seeing Saint Padre Pio was a blessing! Very moving spiritual experience especially since I was named after him. We were able to attend mass and Stefano took us to a good and reasonably priced restaurant nearby for lunch. Massimo was an excellent driver. Both were friendly and professional. Highly recommended tour!
Amazing Private day trip to in San Giovanni Rotondo and the Basilica Sanctuary of San Michele
tukisas2022,
May 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Driver Max and tour guide Paola were fantastic! We were late for our 6:30 am pick up and they waited so patiently with a warm smile. They made sure we had adequate stops during our journey. We arrived at the Basilica Sanctuary of San Michele in enough time to attend mass! We then traveled to San Giovanni Rotondo. Paola went with us and helped us navigate the sites of St. Padre Pio and ensured we had adequate time for gift shops and to submit a request for a mass. Following the tour, we ate at a fantastic restaurant across from the site and both Max and Paola were ensured we had our privacy for our meal all while coordinating our experience with the staff since we do not speak Italian. Overall, Paola was very knowledgeable and very pleasant to be around. Max was also very helpful and patiently waited for us. They are a fantastic team and highly recommend them both. We will likely request them for other excursions for future trips.
A trip to Padre Pio Shrine
H2158GNjohnp,
May 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great trip. Max the perfect driver and Stefano the perfect guide. The visit to Padre Pio is a wonderful memory. Thank you !!