The Chapel of Saint Francis in Piana Romana

"That small hut became a real small church for me.”

These words were said later by Padre Pio. Near the place where once stood the small hut of hay, Mercurio Scocca, childhood friend of Padre Pio, lived on a large farm close to the home of Padre Pio’s family in Piana Romana.
In 1958, there began the construction of the church dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. It is now a large shady street with pine trees, and it draws one to this place dear to Padre Pio. It is the destination of more and more numerous pilgrims.

Here was where Padre Pio received his first sign of the stigmata.