The Church of St. John the Baptist, known as the Rotonda, is the oldest religious building in San Giovanni Rotondo and the origin of the city’s name. Built between the 6th and 7th centuries, it likely served as a baptistery and was an important stop on the Via Sacra Longobardorum leading to St. Michael’s Sanctuary. A local legend links it to a temple of Janus, though no evidence supports this.
Excavations in 2014 revealed a rare early Christian baptismal font, confirming its original function. Inside, fragments of medieval frescoes (13th–15th centuries) depict saints and Gospel scenes, enriching the panorama of medieval art in southern Italy. Today deconsecrated, the Rotonda remains a cultural and historical symbol of the city.
- Address
Via della Rotonda, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy - Web
None - Visiting Hours
Unknown - What to see
Medieval paintings
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