WITH THE FREE PATRONAGE OF
CARNEVALE DI PUTIGNANO
CHURCH OF SAN PIETRO APOSTOLO
Putignano a history you don't expect
Church of Santi Medici Cosma e Damiano (XVI century)
After the first half of 1500, the building was rebuilt and enlarged following a fire that destroyed the ceiling and in 1748 the front part of the external facade was rebuilt.
The coats of arms on the facade of the church, dating back to 1635, are well preserved, one and the stems with the soul cleanser and therefore it is the emblem of the Pio Monte delle Anime del Purgatorio which was established in this church by Fra Marco Aurelio Salduerio, Sicilian, The vicar general of Bali of Santo Stefano around 1632, to which one of the other coats of arms belongs.
The Pio Monte delle Anime in purgatory had masses celebrated with the offerings of the faithful 
to accelerate the redemption of the souls in Purgatory. The third should be that of the bailiff of Santo Stefano in charge in those years, Filippo Maleti from Messina.
to accelerate the redemption of the souls in Purgatory. The third should be that of the bailiff of Santo Stefano in charge in those years, Filippo Maleti from Messina.The presence under the shield of the eight-pointed star of the Knights of Malta and the bishop's hat above it once again underline the independence of Putignano from the spiritual jurisdiction of the Bishop of Conversano, because as we well know Putignano was a "nullius diocese" at least until to the servitutis of the Pope Apostolicae of 1743 Benedetto XIV Lambertini.
On the external side facade there is a small stone sculpture, obtained from a single block probably of a building previously built there; it is a bas-relief in the shape of a shrine representing San Michele. The aedicule, certainly prior to the sixteenth century, has a rounded upper side and in the center San Michele is depicted as an angel with outstretched wings, a raised halo, wrapped in the chlamys worn by wayfarers and messengers. Archangel Michael is represented in the most ancient meaning, the one that sees him holding in his left hand the globe marked by the cross that symbolizes the sky, while in his right hand he holds the stick, a sign that identifies him as a messenger of God. of San Michele has a very strong meaning and it is strange that the bas-relief was relegated to a side facade. It is probable that the aedicule of San Michele was located on the main facade and was then moved laterally, in 1625 following the restoration carried out by the aforementioned Fra Marco Aurelio Salduerio.
The interior, with a single nave architecture and barrel vaults, dates back to the 16th century.
On the main altar stands a large canvas: it depicts the SS. Trinity 'with the Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, St. Michael the Archangel, the SS. Cosma and Damiano, and the souls in purgatory. The pictorial style of the two canvases is certainly attributable to the school of Apulian painters Francesco Antonio Altobello e Nicola Gliri natives of Bitonto (Ba). The high altar canvas and the stone bas-relief, placed outside the church, link the church of Purgatory to the figure of the Archangel Michael as the "companion" of the souls of the dead in Purgatory to Heaven. The Archangel Michael, on the canvas, is represented in the act of pointing with the index finger of his right hand, to the souls in Purgatory, the Trinity depicted above. This of San Michele is an unusual pictorial representation, usually the Archangel he is depicted with the sword piercing Lucifer.
On the main altar stands a large canvas: it depicts the SS. Trinity 'with the Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, St. Michael the Archangel, the SS. Cosma and Damiano, and the souls in purgatory. The pictorial style of the two canvases is certainly attributable to the school of Apulian painters Francesco Antonio Altobello e Nicola Gliri natives of Bitonto (Ba). The high altar canvas and the stone bas-relief, placed outside the church, link the church of Purgatory to the figure of the Archangel Michael as the "companion" of the souls of the dead in Purgatory to Heaven. The Archangel Michael, on the canvas, is represented in the act of pointing with the index finger of his right hand, to the souls in Purgatory, the Trinity depicted above. This of San Michele is an unusual pictorial representation, usually the Archangel he is depicted with the sword piercing Lucifer.
To the left of the main altar, from the sacristy room through a narrow and winding staircase you enter a small 18th century wooden choir delimited by a decorated balustrade.
The left side altar is enriched by a beautiful canvas by Carelli, painter from Martina Franca, depicting San Gaetano da Thiene; on the second altar on the left you can appreciate a Santa Lucia, also the work of the Bitonto painter Altobello.
To the right of the nave, a canvas depicting S. Andrea di Avellino in ecstasy by Carelli made in 1775 and a Madonna with child probably made by Altobello.
Finally, on the right side of the main altar, we find the papier-mâché images of Saints Cosma and Damiano by the Lecce master Giuseppe Manzo (in the photo) dated 1919 donated to the rectory by a devoted Putignanese.
This website project born from the idea of Gianni Musaio is enclosed in a team spirit and is the result of the collaboration of people, ordinary citizens, who care about the historical, cultural, artistic, geographical, food and wine heritage of the historic center of Putignano, a town in to live.
The historic center of a town is the fulcrum of the territory, where ancient stories, traditions and culture of those who preceded us are preserved. You too can contribute to leaving the testimonies of the past to the generations to come, taking care of them.