--- title: "Small groups from Rome: Padre Pio and Grotto of San Michele" lang: en type: tour city: Rome country: Italy price: 375 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.98 reviews: 43 duration_minutes: 780 languages: [pt, en, fr, es] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 16 of 75 (Day Trips from Rome) schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/small-groups-from-rome-padre-pio-and-grotto-of-san-michele/ --- # Small groups from Rome: Padre Pio and Grotto of San Michele **Guidekin's take:** A pilgrimage day into Puglia: the cave sanctuary of Saint Michael at Monte Sant'Angelo, then the shrine of Padre Pio at San Giovanni Rotondo, in a minivan with hotel pickup and an assistant for the whole route, rated 4.98 across 43 reviews. Transport and the visits are included at €375 per person, lunch and tips are not. A very long day on the road. In our comparison: #16 of 75 in Day Trips from Rome, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Set off from Rome for a spiritual journey into the heart of Puglia. You will be picked up from your hotel or apartment and travel in a comfortable 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 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 Church of San Pio, designed by Renzo Piano, 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. ## Before you book - Hotel pickup: from 1463 pickup points - Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers - Starts 06:30: one departure a day - Food not included: bring or buy your own - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €215: ages 4 to 8 **Pickup:** Hotel pickup from 1463 pickup points ## Key facts - Price: from €375 per person - Duration: 13h - Rating: 4.98/5 from 43 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Mamma Mia Italia - Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish - Start times: 06:30 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.98 from 43 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 43 of 43. - 5 stars: 42 (98%) - 4 stars: 1 (2%) - 3 stars: 0 (0%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise knowledgeable guides, patient care and careful driving; the caveat is the long journey from Rome. **Praised:** - Clear explanations of the shrines' history and religious significance - Careful driving that helps travellers feel safe and comfortable - Patient help for older travellers and those with limited mobility - Punctual pickups and well organised visits - An unhurried pace with time to explore and take breaks **Complaints:** - Long drives between Rome and the shrines Written by Guidekin from the 35 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2025-04-04 to 2026-09-19); last checked 2026-10-03. ## What's included - Pick up and drop off - Assistant for the entire duration of the tour - Driver - Air-conditioned vehicle - Visit to the Shrine of Padre Pio - Visit to the Basilica Sanctuary of San Michele Arcangelo and the Grotto of San Michele ## Not included - Lunch - Gratuities ## Itinerary 1. **Santuario Padre Pio** (4h) - 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... 2. **Santuario di San Michele Arcangelo** (1h) - The Grotto of San Michele Arcangelo, located in Monte Sant’Angelo, 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... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 06:30 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. Pickup points listed by the operator: 1463 ## Good to know - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Specialized infant seats are available - Suitable for all physical fitness levels Booking asks for: dates of birth ## Compared with other Day Trips from Rome | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #16 of 75** | €375 | 13h | 4.98 (43) | shared | | [Premium Minivan Trip from Rome: Pompeii Tour & Lunch in Sorrento](/italy/rome/tours/premium-minivan-trip-from-rome-pompeii-tour-lunch-in-sorrento/?format=md) | €169 | 11h | 4.97 (402) | shared | | [Pompeii and Amalfi Coast Private Day Trip from Rome](/italy/rome/tours/pompeii-and-amalfi-coast-private-day-trip-from-rome/?format=md) | €550 | 12h | 4.98 (247) | private | | [Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio Full Day Private Tour from Rome](/italy/rome/tours/orvieto-and-civita-di-bagnoregio-full-day-private-tour-from-rome/?format=md) | €363 | 8h | 4.99 (163) | private | Ranked #16 of 75 in Day Trips from Rome by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €42 to €1020, median €200; typical length 11h. 27 of 75 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/day-trips-from-rome/?format=md ## More in Rome - All Rome tours: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/small-groups-from-rome-padre-pio-and-grotto-of-san-michele/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md