Chiesa del Purgatorio, Catholic church building in Ruvo di Puglia, Italy

The Chiesa del Purgatorio is a Renaissance church in Ruvo di Puglia formed by joining two older churches. Inside, two barrel-vaulted naves display frescoes, a notable 19th century papier-mache Pietà, and altars from different periods, along with ancient silver objects and paintings.

The original San Cleto church was built in the 16th century on a site where early Christians once gathered. A new church was constructed in the 17th century, the two were merged in 1643, and the confraternity was officially established in 1678.

The church is the seat of the Confraternita del Purgatorio, founded in 1678 by Bishop Galesio under the title "Maria Santissima del Suffragio". The name changed from San Michele Arcangelo to Purgatory because the faithful gathered there to pray for the souls of the dead. The wooden polyptych shows the Madonna with Child among praying confreres and Saints Cleto, Biagio and Rocco.

The church is located on Largo San Cleto in central Ruvo di Puglia and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors should take time to walk through both naves, as each reflects different artistic periods and contains different artworks.

The northern nave stands over a Roman-era cistern that locals call the grotto of San Cleto, traditionally held to be the catacomb where Ruvo's first Christians gathered under Cleto, later bishop and pope. The bell tower added in 1753 is a rectangular block whose sides end in volutes, crowned by a large acroterion shaped like a round vase.