Ruvo Cathedral is located in the heart of the old town on a small plaza. The cathedral is a three aisled basilica with a transept and three small apse to the east end. The free standing campanile at the south east corner was originally a defensive tower and was rreconstructed in the 18th century. This 13th century façade shows the beginnings of the vertical orientation that would characterise the Gothic style of architecture, with steep roof lines and a peaked gable at the top. This vertical effect was once greater, it was mitigated by the widening of the base in later centuries to accommodate side chapels. The roof line is accentuated with vertical blind arches springing from corbels of human and animal heads, a motif which continues along the sides.

The rose window in the gable is in the wheel style which is typical of this region and dates from the 16th century. Below it is a bas relief figure of St Michael and a small oculus with beautifully carved designs, sculptures of angels and some creature with a Latin inscription. At the top of the façade is a seated man identified as Frederick 11 ( a Holy Roman Emperor between 1220-1250) and above him is a notch containing a weathered sculpture of Christ.

This small town of Ruvo lies on the eastern slopes of the Murge plateau, west of the town of Bari. It is noted for its vineyards and olive groves. Back in the 3rd century it was a flourishing Greek town that was famous for its potteries, which were imitations of imported Corinthian and Attic black and red ware a large collection of which can be seen in the Jarva museum.