Bitonto
Bitonto is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Bari within the Apulia region of southern Italy, situated approximately 11 kilometers west of the regional capital Bari.[1] As of 2023, it has a population of 53,103 residents spread over an area of 174 square kilometers.[2][3] The town is historically and economically tied to agriculture, particularly the cultivation of olives, producing high volumes of extra virgin olive oil—such as 29,000 quintals from a single cooperative in the 2023/2024 season—and earning recognition for its role in Puglia's first Oil Community initiative.[4][5] Its defining landmark is the Co-Cathedral of Bitonto, constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries in the Apulian Romanesque style during Norman rule and regarded as one of the finest examples of this architectural tradition in the region.[6] The cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, features intricate portals with biblical carvings, a prominent bell tower, and medieval elements including a 13th-century ambo and Byzantine frescoes in its crypt.[6] Bitonto's well-preserved medieval historic center and ancient origins underscore its cultural significance as a center of Puglia's rural heritage and artisanal traditions.[7]