Chiesa di San Giacomo, Romanesque church in Barletta, Italy

Chiesa di San Giacomo is one of the oldest churches in Barletta, built outside the city walls on the road to Canne. It was probably founded in the Gothic style with three naves and a transept, but later architectural layers have altered its original features. The complex also included a monastery called palactium, a hospital, and a monks' cemetery that doubled as a vegetable garden.

A papal document from 1158 first mentions the church, but archaeological findings suggest it was built on the remains of an ancient temple. This continuity of sacred use at the same location spans from Roman times through the Middle Ages.

The church displays paintings and liturgical objects collected over many centuries. These works show how faith and art were expressed by people who lived here at different times.

The church is located in central Barletta and is easily reached on foot from the main sights of the city. Visitors should expect narrow streets in the historic center and allow time to explore the surrounding area.

In 1910, restoration work uncovered medals engraved with the Egyptian deities Isis, Osiris and Horus, supporting the theory that the church was built over the ruins of a pagan temple. The 8th-century stone relief of the Annunciation with Lombard features is the earliest evidence of Christian worship on the site.