Piana Romana of Pietrelcina

The via del Rosario starts in the Castello di Pietrelcina district.

It is a 2 km path that Padre Pio and his family used to walk to get to the Forgione farm in Piana Romana of Pietrelcina where they worked. Nowadays, believers use to walk that path.

To get to Pietrelcina by car from the north, take the A14, exit at Termoli-Molise and continue towards Boiano-Benevento-Pietrelcina; from Naples take the A1, exit at Caianello, continue towards Telese-Benevento-Pietrelcina; from the south take the A16, exit at Benevento, then exit at Benevento Ovest and take the SS 212 towards Pietrelcina.

To get to Pietrelcina by train you must first reach the central station of Benevento, and from there take the ETAC bus towards San Bartolomeo in Saldo or towards San Marco dei Cavoti, which stop in Pietrelcina.

This walk of faith leads to the silent countryside of Piana Romana in Pietrelcina, where the cappella di San Francesco (San Francesco Chapel) is. This chapel houses the elm tree where Padre Pio received the stigmata.

Another must-visit place is the Forgione farm where the saint’s family kept the tools to farm and where they used to pray with the Holy Rosary: it is just a humble room with a rock floor.

Piana Romana is a quiet and magical place, where prayers and spirituality rule the roost.