The church of Vallisa (previously Raveddise, “of the Ravellesi”) was named on account of the presence of groups of merchants from Amalfi and Ravello in the city. Today the building looks very different from its past appearance due to its “stylistic” restoration carried out between 1957 and 1962, which eliminated all of the Baroque embellishments, leaving exposed walls. However, this medieval remodelling did not restore the church its original appearance, which would have been largely frescoed, as can be seen from the few remaining decorative elements preserved on parts of the walls.
Nevertheless, it remains an important medieval monument within the old town, built in honour of a community which first appeared in Bari in the 9th century and remained on good terms with the local population both from a religious and commercial point of view. The Amalfi and Bari populations established similar commercial communities, probably even sharing their fleets. Evidence of this close mercantile relationship can be found in the well-known Crisobolla agreement, granted by Emperor Basil II with regard to the Venetians, which explicitly forbade them from loading their ships with “goods deriving from the Amalfitans or Longobards from the city of Bari”. From a religious viewpoint, interesting similarities were also evident in their respective patron saints. Worship of San Nicola, for example, was also widespread in Amalfi. Likewise, Bari had a number of churches dedicated to St Andrew by the Sea as well as the monastery of Sant’Andrea delle Vergini outside the city walls, which venerated the patron saint of Amalfi. The church of Vallisa reacquired a measure of unexpected fame after the restoration of the paving in Piazza Ferrarese, with its three semi-circular apses overlook. The main entrance with its triple arched colonnade, on the other hand, is in Strada Vallisa. Today the church has been deconsecrated and hosts the Diocesan Auditorium, a multi-functional arts and culture venue.