Private Tour
Padre Pio and St. Michael the Archangel Private Tour from Rome
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
San Giovanni Rotondo is famous all over the world as the native city of St. Pio (known as Padre Pio) of Pietrelcina, and as the city where the venerated monk worked his miracles. Pio was beatified in 2002.In the Capuchin Monastery Padre Pio received the stigmata in 1918, and there where all those supernatural events that led to his sainthood and canonization took place as well. It is a destination that the devout and tourists alike should make every effort to visit. The Church’s crypt also hosted, up until a few years ago, the tomb of St. Pio. The Sanctuary of the Archangel Michael, or San Michele, in the grotto dates from the 5th - 6th centuries and is the site where devotion to the Archangel Michael began. The original grotto of San Michele is said to have been consecrated by the archangel and is the only church not consecrated by human hands.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Specialized infant seats are available
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Child rate applies only when shared with 2 paying adults
Dress code required: knees and shoulders must be covered
Wheelchair available on request. Please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Chiesa di San Pio
After the death of Padre Pio, the Saint’s friars thought of constructing a new church, because too sensitive to the material and spiritual needs of the devotees, that the existing church could not contain. After the presentation of several projects, Friars entrusted the design of a new church to the architect Renzo Piano, so that it could accommodate 6,500 people. For its size it is the second largest church in Italy, after St. Peter's Church in Rome.
Convento Santa Maria delle Grazie
Long dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie, the new Sanctuary conceived by Renzo Piano occupies – with its enormous conch-shell structure - and represents the second-largest church in Italy after Milan's Duomo. Finally opened after ten years of construction, and also known as the Church of St. Pio, the new Sanctuary was almost entirely financed by the offerings of pilgrims. Today it can hold up to 6,500 people at once.
What‘s Included
Entrance in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie
Lunch
Private English-speaking tour escort at your disposal
Pick-up and drop off with luxury transportation and private chauffeur
Entrance in the Sanctuary of Archangel Michael in Monte St. Angelo
Entrance in the Church of San Pio "Chiesa Grande"
Entrance ticket at St. Pio's Museum
Visit of the cript which hosts the body of St. Pio
Gratuities
Pickup points
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Padre Pio and St. Michael the Archangel Private Tour from Rome
Pickup included
Reviews
19 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Life Changing
timothym629,,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Francesco and Luigi made the trip enjoyable and comfortable for our family of 4. I highly recommend this trip, amazing sites to see, especially for Catholics. Once in a lifetime opportunity.
When I saw the body of Padre pio encrypted
mariditac,,Sep 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Padre Pio was so amazing slight it’s worth doing. Francisco and Luigi are very excellent and informative during the tour . I can recommend them to the next tour very respectfull and descent.
PadrePio and Saint Michaelarchangel Sanctuary trip
V7291GBjocelynh,,Jun 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our trip to Padre Pio and Saint Michael Sanctuaries (May 29, 2025) was very blessed and awesome. Our tour guide Luisa was great . To Luisa , thank you for being our guide today. We enjoyed our tour very much especially from one who practices the same Catholic faith as we do. I'll send more pictures. Please extend to Florian our gratitude for his expert and safe driving. We also appreciate the lunch arrangements you did. Loved it🙏 Heluise, Jocelyn & Socorro
Great personalized option
ronnyu156,,Jun 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a trip we took as a couple, and it was a fantastic experience. If you're looking for a personalized and memorable outing, this is a great option. The drive from Rome takes about 3–4 hours, making it a full-day excursion from early morning until night. However, the time passed quickly thanks to the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by our driver and guide. The car was very comfortable, and the guide provided excellent explanations of the sites we visited. They were always attentive to our questions and made sure we felt informed and cared for throughout the day. It was definitely worth the investment. Special thanks to Maria Luisa, our knowledgeable and friendly guide, and to Luigi, our professional and courteous driver. We were very pleased with the entire experience.
San Giovanni Rotondo and Archangel St. Michael with a very knowledgeable Tour Guide
dannynR8426IW,,Apr 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We have the most wonderful and spiritual time on San Giovanni Rotondo. Our tour guide Francesco brought the perfect combination of spiritual knowledge ( we are Catholic Pilgrims in Rome for the 2025 Jubilee ) and the prudence / deference to understand we needed time to pray without jeopardizing the tour pace and sharing very valuable information so we can deeply understand the historical and spiritual aspects of Padre Pío plus the stop at the wonderful Archangel Michael’s Groto. It’s a must tour if you are visiting Italy on spiritual journey/pilgrimage. Very nice drive from Rome to San Giovanni Rotondo and back with enough time to have a great capuccino.
Worth it! Great Experience!
Jessica C,,Apr 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing! Francesco and Luigi were outstanding and made the experience memorable. The trip from Rome to S.G. Rotondo and back was very relaxed and comfortable. Francesco was a wealth of knowledge on Padre Pio and let us explore at our own place. We explored, experienced and learned way more than expected all while embracing the religious importance of Padre Pio. So glad we went on this tour and would highly recommend.
Blessed in this journey
Gena V,,Apr 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was spiritual journey, we had enough time to go around town, attend a mass, eat lunch. timing was perfect for the mass. there were arranged time for rest stops for bathroom breaks. we felt safe with the driving of Luigi. And Francesco M was our guide, he was informative and sensitive to the needs of my Aunt. we used a lift when available. Thank you for your kind attention. Will be glad to recommend the trip.
Unforgettable quick stop!
raflakiz06,,Mar 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Maria was an amazing companion and leader to our trip. She is so patient and sympathetic to my beliefs (and hers), respectful and accommodating us was just incredible. The driver and Maria were so knowledgeable and friendly too.
We couldn’t have done this on our own
MariaTeresa L,,Jan 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was dream come true for my husband who developed a devotion for Padre Pio last year. It’s a long ride from but it was well worth it and I don’t think we would have appreciated visiting Pietrelcina if we just took an Uber to go there and back. We thank God for our tour leader Sabrina who took us to the different chapels in Pietrelcina and this included leading our family of 5 down a beautiful hallway with mosaic walls built and gifted by Filipinos some years back because of their devotion to Padre Pio. The right wall showed mosaic images of the life of Christ while the left wall had mosaic images of the life of St. Francis of Assisi. The day before the tour, we asked if we could hear Mass in Pietrelcina as it was going to be a Sunday. Viator accommodated our request and Sabrina timed it so that we could still find seats for the 11:30am mass. She brought us to Padre Pio’s crypt after (it could’ve been before the Mass when there were less people at the crypt, but I’m glad she made a judgment call to do this after the mass so our family could be seated for Mass. I told Sabrina if there was an opportunity, if we could hear confession too. She tried in Pietrelcina but there was none. Part of the tour was having lunch which our family enioyed. Other than Pietrelcina, the tour includes going to the Saint Michael the Archangel chapel/sanctuary. Didn’t expect this special walk down to a chapel/cave. And Sabrina was able to help us find a place where there were was an English priest-confessor. ❤️ I wish Sabrina could have spoken more about Padre Pio but that’s on me because I didn’t ask more about him. More than anything, I am grateful that it was Sabrina who was our tour leader because I really felt her faith and she was not shy about sharing this with us and emphasizing about faith and God’s love. Florian our driver got us sooner to the various destinations efficiently and safely. He was kind to interact with too. This made our trip to Italy both memorable and meaningful. Perfect for our family Jubilee pilgrimage. My only feedback for consideration of Viator is to fix the Viator app because when it asked me to choose a certain currency (INR) to avail of my points (to give me a discount for my succeeding ordered trips), I couldn’t select the currency on the app. Even Arif, our tour leader for our Pisa trip tried to help but even if we tried restarting the app and my phone, it didn’t work so I wasn’t able to avail of my earned points. Hope other customers don’t have the same concern.
Best tour
G9265BRdeborag,,Oct 2, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful experience, Luigi was the best driver and Sabrina was a wonderfull tour guide so patient and attentive they are the best
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