The basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is the cathedral of Barletta, formerly the cathedral of the archdiocese of Barletta and today the co-cathedral of the archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie. Located in the city’s historical centre, at the end of Via Duomo, it is the oldest hub of the city’s religious life, as well as its urbanistic pivot: the design of the urban fabric shows the centripetal force of its mother church.

It was built on an earlier Paleochristian church in the 12th century and later enlarged in the 14th century.

The building is made up of two clearly distinct parts: the front one is typically Romanesque and predates the second, rear one which has distinct Gothic features instead. The church is the result of a series of architectural stratifications over the centuries, dating back to pre-Christian times. The start of construction of the current building dates back to 1126 and continued until the 14th century.

First a distinguished collegiate church of Barletta, over the centuries claiming exemptions and autonomy from other jurisdictions, it was elevated to cathedral of the archdiocese of Barletta-Nazareth by Pope Pius IX with the papal bull Imperscrutabili Dei of 21 April 1860. It has been a minor basilica since 1961. Since 1986 it has been co-cathedral of the archdiocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie.

Worship is officiated by the canons of the chapter of Santa Maria Maggiore.