 (105K) 592 x 400 | Arriving at the Shine / Church / Friary of St. Padre Pio. One sees the original church on the left, with its small bell and the window from which Padre Pio would bless and wave. On the right is the newer, larger Church - both dedicated to Our Lady of Grace. |
 (61K) 400 x 592 | The high altar of the original, 16th century church, repaired in 1629 after an earthquake. Above the altar is Our Lady of Grace, with St. John the Baptist and St. Paul. |
 (69K) 592 x 400 | The old sacrsty, where Padre Pio vested for Mass for numerous years before the new Church was built. |
 (66K) 400 x 592 | Inside the newer Church, consecrated in 1959, 9 years before Padre Pio's death. The mosaic of Our Lady of Grace dominates the interior. The main altar has bronze statues of 6 Franciscan saints (fuzzy). |
 (81K) 400 x 592 | A side altar to St. Michael. Padre Pio himself advised the artist how to design the image with him crushing and stabing the devil. |
 (60K) 592 x 400 | The evening rosary and candelight procession with an image of Our Lady of Grace. |
 (68K) 592 x 400 | The tomb of Padre Pio, in the crypt underneath the main Church, which was blessed on Sept. 22, 1968, and Padre Pio would die at 2:30 AM that night (the next morning). |
 (68K) 592 x 400 | The tomb is contained in a large block of black grantine, weighing 30 tons. |
 (82K) 400 x 592 | One of the many confessionals of Padre Pio, as his primary work was hearing confessions all day, every day. |
 (61K) 400 x 592 | The 17th centruty crucifix in the choir loft which Padre Pio was praying before when he received the visible stigmata Sept. 20, 1918. |
 (63K) 592 x 400 | The new sacristy, where Padre Pio prepared to celebrate mass in his last years, and after he made a thanksgiving, devotees would fil the sacristy and kneel to receive his blessing. |
 (85K) 592 x 400 | The typical tourist gift shop - which line the streets of the city. |
 (96K) 592 x 400 | The city hall of San Giovanni Rotondo. The city gets the name from a round pagan temple (the Rotonda) which in the 12th century was consecrated as a Church named after St. John the Baptist, who is co-patron of the ciy. Can you guess who the other patron saint of the city is? |
 (71K) 400 x 592 | Bronze sculpture to Padre Pio in the center of the city. Behind it is the Church of San Leonardo. |
 (71K) 400 x 592 | San Leonardo is called the "mother church" of the city. |
 (80K) 592 x 400 | Inside the Church of St. Nicholas, famous for its statue of the Sorrowful Mother, which is carried in procession every Good Friday. |
 (95K) 592 x 400 | Final view of Our Lady of Grace basilica. On the right are stairs leading to the Stations of the Cross, which zigzags up the mountain and ends with an enormous Resurrected Christ. |
 (75K) 400 x 592 | Bronze memorial statue of St. Padre Pio at the base of the way of the cross. |
 (113K) 592 x 400 | View loking out over the city and valley from the shrine. |