As you stroll along Vittorio Emanuele Boulevard, it's hard not to stop and admire two grand buildings facing each other with striking elegance. Until the 1800s, these palaces were surrounded by a large Italian-style garden—once considered among the most beautiful in the Greater Bari area.
Both buildings were commissioned by the noble Gentile family, originally of Norman descent. Though the gardens have mostly disappeared, the palaces still stand proudly. On the west side is the neoclassical Gentile’s Palace “Junior,” and on the east, the more elaborate Gentile’s Palace “Senior,” which now houses Bitonto’s City Hall.

The Gentile family arrived in Bitonto in the 1500s.

In the early 1800s, two brothers—Diego and Vincenzo Gentile—left a strong mark on the family’s legacy. Their father, Michele, had already cemented ties with the Knights of Malta. Diego served in Napoleon’s army during the Russian campaign alongside Murat. At the same time, Vincenzo, a supporter of revolutionary ideals, commissioned the two palaces you see today, along with several countryside villas.

Urban expansion at the time was boosted by the closing of the old Saint Leo Fair in 1778, which freed up space between key parts of the city. Additional streets were added from one of the old city gates, gradually shifting the urban center from its original core to a newer, more modern hub.

Diego never had children, while Vincenzo left two sons, Domenico and Francesco, who inherited the palaces. The “Senior” building was designed by Luigi Castellucci, and the “Junior” by Raffaele Comes—both students of a famous Bitonto-born architect, Francesco Saponieri, who had founded a neoclassical school in Naples. These homes were built for nobility, and unlike other local buildings, they don’t have commercial ground-floor entrances. Instead, they feature elegant rows of windows and balconies.

Gentile’s Palace “Senior,” now City Hall, stands out for its balance and beauty. Doric and Ionic pilasters give rhythm to the front, while the large stone entrance is topped by a balcony supported by columns carved from local stone. Above it, decorative bands and sculpted details nod to ancient classical styles. The upper floor features balconies with alternating triangular and arched pediments, and the whole building is crowned with a finely crafted cornice.

Step through the main door, and you enter a grand hallway. On the ceiling is the Gentile family coat of arms—a golden lion with green claws—flanked by medals from three religious orders: Saint John of Jerusalem, San Gennaro, and the Constantinian Order of Saint George. From here, you enter a beautiful square courtyard with a stunning staircase inspired by the architect Vanvitelli. The central stair is flanked by two side staircases leading up to a landing with graceful arches. Inside, you’ll still find traces of the palace’s elegant past: marble fireplaces, hand-painted tiles from Vietri and Capodimonte, and detailed architectural elements of the building’s noble history.