This palatial residence was built in 1574. The Giannone family already owned several buildings in the area, which were gradually integrated into the larger structure. Despite their different origins, all the buildings share a defining architectural feature: the entrance on the left side of the palace, framed by a Renaissance-style portal with radiating rusticated stones and a 16th-century family crest carved into the keystone. The divided coat of arms symbolizes the union of the two lineages: on the left, the Sylos family emblem—a red cross commemorating their participation in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212, flanked by three scallop shells representing pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela; on the right, the Angevin lily and the rose of the Giannone family.

The structure underwent a significant transformation decades later to celebrate another important union: the 1696 marriage of Alfonso Sylos and Isabella Sersale, a noblewoman from a prominent Neapolitan family. The renovation, likely commissioned to local architect Vito Valentino and other master builders of the time, was completed between 1730 and 1740. The result reflects the influence of Neapolitan Baroque architecture, which had become well-established in the Puglia region during this period.

The main façade is a display of exuberant Baroque ornamentation. Slender columns, alternating smooth and textured shafts, divide the façade, supporting a richly ornamented entablature and a gallery crowned by a finely sculpted stone balustrade. The frieze is adorned with acanthus scrolls, griffins, and twin-tailed sirens—symbols evoking the bride’s Neapolitan heritage.

Above the carriage entrance is a grotesque mask with a protective function. The capitals, blending classical and exotic elements, support a balcony whose corners feature sculpted figures: a young maiden and a pregnant woman, surrounded by floral motifs—symbols of fertility and well-being for the household.

The large window at the center displays a quartered coat of arms that combines the emblems of the Sylos and Sersale families. The first and fourth quadrants feature the Sylos insignia; the second bears the Sersale crest, with two lions flanking a tree; and the third displays the arms of the Labini family, who were related to the Sylos through marriage. The same coat of arms reappears inside the vaulted entrance hall beneath a series of lunettes. The interior gallery, overlooking an irregularly shaped courtyard, includes a staircase reminiscent of 16th-century Neapolitan design.

The opulence of the Sylos–Sersale Palace lies not in its scale but in the refined artistry of its decorative details—a hallmark of many aristocratic homes in Bitonto between the 16th and 18th centuries. Constrained by the dense medieval fabric of the historic center, the local nobility often favored ornamental richness over grand spatial layouts. It wasn’t until the 19th century that these limitations prompted noble families to move to the modern quarter known as “Borgo Nuovo”, where more imposing residences could be built to reflect their social standing.