The Church of Saint George is one of Bitonto’s oldest places of worship, with records dating back to the 11th century. Initially, the church featured a three-aisle layout, with each side marked by three arches—an architectural arrangement reminiscent of the churches of Saint Sylvester and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. In 1680, the building underwent a complete renovation under the patronage of the Confraternity of the Guardian Angel. A remarkable legacy of that renovation remains: the large statue of the Angel, which still stands proudly above the entrance portal.

In 1804, by decree of Ferdinand IV of Bourbon, the parish was granted the rights and benefices of the churches of Saint Lawrence and the Holy Physician Saints. Soon after, the church underwent further transformation. What was once a single-nave structure with side chapels evolved into a Latin cross layout designed to accommodate an ever-growing congregation of worshippers.

The high altar, made of marble, was completed in 1917, while the equally elegant marble pulpit dates back to 1930. Both were commissioned and donated by some of Bitonto’s wealthiest families, a testament to their deep devotion and strong ties to the life of the parish community.

Today, the Holy Physician Saints statues are preserved in the Pontifical Basilica, built in the early 1960s to welcome the throngs of pilgrims who still travel to Bitonto from across the Puglia region. This keeps alive a centuries-old tradition of faith and devotion.