San Giovanni Rotondo

San Giovanni Rotondo
Country	Italy
region	Apulia
province	Foggia (FG)
Coordinates	41 ° 42 ' N , 15 ° 44' E Coordinates: 41 ° 42 '0 " N , 15 ° 44' 0" E
height	565 m slm
surface	259 km²
Residents	27,011 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density	104 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	71013
prefix	0882
ISTAT number	071046
Popular name	Sangiovannesi, Sangiovannari (dialect)
Patron saint	San Giovanni Battista
Website	San Giovanni Rotondo

San Giovanni Rotondo is an Italian city in the province of Foggia in Apulia with 27,011 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019). It is located at the southern foot of the Gargano promontory north-northeast of Foggia .

history

The state road from San Severo to Monte Sant'Angelo leads through San Giovanni Rotondo , which has been used by numerous pilgrims since the 6th century to make a pilgrimage to St. Michael's Grotto, where, according to legend, the Archangel Michael appeared.

According to legend, the name of the city comes from the fact that the Lombards erected a statue of their patron saint John the Baptist on a round temple . More likely, however, is the erection of a baptistery , in the early days often round buildings, under the patronage of the Baptist.

One of the most famous citizens of San Giovanni Rotondo was the much venerated and now canonized Padre Pio . Numerous believers still make a daily pilgrimage to the crypt of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie to pray at his tomb and to visit the cell in which he lived. In 2004 the great pilgrimage basilica of San Pio da Pietrelcina was completed. After the Mexican Guadalupe and the "Eternal City" Rome , San Giovanni Rotondo is the third most visited Christian pilgrimage site in the world. Up to seven million pilgrims travel there annually.