From Palmieri Square, walk past the church of S. Teresa to Sts. Peter and Paul Church Originally named Sts Peter and Bartholomew, it was later dedicated in the year 1000 to Sts Peter and Paul the Apostles.
In 1573, Bishop Alfonso Alvarez named it a parish church, and the title remained until the early 20th century, along with its reputation as the most aristocratic church in the town, given the attendance of noble families. Archaeological investigations have brought to light other traces of the aforementioned proto-historic village, on which a first apsidal, early-medieval church was built, and, a short time later, a second with the same architectural features.
The present building probably dates back to the 18th century, although the façade is 16th century. The interior has three naves with five arches and five columns per nave. A valuable Baroque organ, built by Felice Scala in 1737, was dismantled and moved elsewhere after the church was damaged during the 1980 earthquake. Its bell tower retains its Romanesque pedestal.
After several reconstructions, it was finally closed for worship in 1955. Of his works, we still have a painting of St. Peter crucified, now kept in the church of St. Teresa; a small icon of the Madonna of the Madia and a collection of manuscripts by Leonardo Cirulli known as 'Selva d'Oro', kept in the Unique Diocesan Archive.

Source:
Department of Education, Ancient centres in the province of Bari, Levante publisher.

📍Get to Church

CREDITS: Comune di Monopoli.