The Bitonto Museum was established in 1959 and in 1965 was set up in some rooms of the former episcopal residence of Bitonto. The need to safeguard the heritage of the historic churches of Bitonto, in which worship was no longer frequently celebrated, prompted Bishop Marena to preserve and protect the works of art. The same prelate collected over 1800 historical and artistic pieces dating from the 12th century to the early twentieth century and personally curated the exhibition of more than 600 of them. He organized the Museum into an art gallery, silver treasure, sculptures, and Romanesque lapidary. So far, the exhibition venue for the art gallery, the treasure, and the sculptures has been in the building of the Tridentine Seminary on Via Vescovado, built by Bishop Giovanni Barba (1737-1749); the lapidary instead occupies a large room on the lower floor of the bishop’s palace. It has been permanently open to the public since the mid-1970s.
Information about Diocesan Museum of Bitonto (or Mons. Aurelio Marena Art Gallery Museum)
Via Ferrante Aporti, 15
70032 Bitonto (Bari)
0803741289
Source: MIBACT
