Il Museo di Bitonto was founded in 1959 and in 1965 it was set up in some rooms of the former bishop’s palace of Bitonto. The need to safeguard the heritage of the historic churches of Bitonto, where worship was no longer frequently celebrated, led Bishop Marena to preserve and safeguard the works of art. The same prelate collected over 1800 historical-artistic pieces dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century and personally curated the exhibition of over 600 of them. He organized the Museum into a picture gallery, silver treasure, sculptures, and Romanesque lapidary. So far, the exhibition venue of the picture 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 the Diocesan Museum of Bitonto (or Mons. Aurelio Marena Picture Gallery Museum)
Via Ferrante Aporti, 15
70032 Bitonto (Bari)
0803741289
Source: MIBACT
