Tucked between the Rogadeo and Bove Palaces, in the heart of old Bitonto, stands the patronal chapel of the Rogadeo family, dedicated to Saint Anne.
Embedded in an architectural setting that blends different styles and eras, this chapel represents an essential fragment of the city’s layered history. The original structure was significantly altered in the 17th century during the urban redevelopment that accompanied the widening of Via Mercanti. The chapel was shortened, and its entrance bay was demolished.

In 1648, the façade was rebuilt, the arched portal repositioned, and the chapel was formally designated as the Council Hall of the Nobles, an institution representing the aristocratic families of Bitonto. In the lunette above the archway, the coats of arms of noble families were placed, transforming the chapel into a heraldic memorial.

These Council Halls, or Seats (Sedili in Italian), were political and administrative bodies typical of the Kingdom of Naples, established to represent the local nobility within city governance.

From the mid-16th century to the early 18th, the Seat of Saint Anne played a central role in Bitonto’s political life—especially after the city was granted municipal autonomy in 1551 and underwent a wave of civic reforms in 1565 that officially recognized thirty-three noble families. Yet during this same period, a new power center began to rise: the People’s Square near Baresana Gate.

As the aristocracy's influence waned and tensions between the noble and popular classes grew, the Seat of the Nobles steadily lost its authority. Over time, its assemblies became increasingly irrelevant to the city’s administration until the institution was finally abolished under French rule and its anti-feudal reforms.

Despite later adding an 18th-century plaster coating, the chapel retains parts of its original structure. Following ancient tradition, the building is oriented east to west, with the altar set into a domed apse. Visitors can admire a remarkable painting by Carlo Rosa, depicting the Virgin and Child surrounded by saints in quiet dialogue.Beneath the floor lies the tombstone of Giacomo Rogadeo, a silent witness to the family’s legacy in Bitonto’s noble past.