Museo Diocesano di Trani – Polo Museale di Trani

The Diocesan Museum of Trani, or Polo Museale, presents sacred art from the Archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie. Its central collection is housed in Palazzo Lodispoto beside the cathedral, with a related Jewish-art section in the former synagogue of Sant'Anna.

Why it matters

The museum forms part of the archdiocese's “Musei, Archivi e Biblioteche” network, linking collections in Trani, Barletta and Bisceglie. Its holdings include liturgical furnishings, paintings and sculpture gathered from the cathedral and churches of the diocese. A related section in Sant'Anna documents the history of Trani's Jewish community through ritual objects and manuscripts.

What to notice

The main museum occupies the archdiocesan palace on Piazza Duomo, next to the cathedral. The complex also includes a typewriter museum with a collection of about 400 machines, including an Adriano Olivetti section. Sant'Anna, a former medieval synagogue in the Giudecca, houses the Jewish-art section associated with the diocesan museum.

Context and history

The archdiocese developed the museum with the Fondazione SECRA as a way to preserve and interpret its cultural heritage. The Sant'Anna section opened in 2009 after the former synagogue was adapted for cultural use. The collection and its related sections connect Trani's sacred, Jewish and civic histories.