Palazzo Cavaliere dates back to the end of the 1600s when the De Angelis family entrusted the construction of the church of Saint Anne and the piazza opposite to the Mesagnese cleric and architect Francesco Capodieci. To develop the present Piazza Orsini del Balzo the De Angelis family bought the entire block and demolished the houses, thus changing the medieval aspect of this part of the town.

Recently, the Palazzo was acquired by the Benedictine Monastery of San Pietro di Ostuni for use as the Museum of Sacred Art together with the Parrocchia di Ognissanti di Mesagne (All Saints Parish of Mesagne).

A description follows of the exhibition tour.

The first room, entitled Monastero di San Pietro (Monastery of Saint Peter) displays silver items, amongst which there is a crucifix with a silver base commissioned by the abbess Giustina De Benedictis in 1683, vestments owned by the Benedictine community and an oval canvas painting by Domenico Pinca (Mesagne 1746 – 1813) depicting the Madonna del Carmine.

In the second room, there is a further display of silver items that come from the Mesagne Chapter and from the Monastery of the Benedictines of Ostuni and it highlights the prestige of the two institutions with the items on display. The silver items exhibited are mainly of Neapolitan craftsmanship. There are silver-plated crosses, tabernacles, wine glasses, incense boats, teaspoons, lamps, chalices, small buckets, aspesoria, censers, shuttles, incense burners, cruets, rings, small vases, glove boxes, trays, and vases in fused silver, repoussè, chased or partially gold-plated.

Rooms 3 and 4 are reserved for the Capitolo Collegiale (Collegiate Chapter) and exhibit its precious sacred vestments. It is a collection that covers a chronological period from the XVI to the XIX centuries of various value and interest. Tonacelle (a type of light garment often placed under the main robe) , capes, tabernacle drapes, chasubles, chalice covers, stoles, maniples and burses of various fabrics with different layouts, weaves and designs are on display. Of particular interest is the Parato in gold of the Capitolo, of Neapolitan craftsmanship, from the second half of the XVIII century consisting of a chasuble, two tonacelle, two stoles, three maniples, a glass cover, purse, tabernacle veil, antependium, cape and humeral veil.

In room 5, Legni dipinti (painted timbers). The tronetti used for the Eucharist are lacquered and gold-plated, like the decorative palms of the altar. The pew on display is from an unknown southern artisan from the XVIII century and forms part of the ecclesiastic decor of the Mesagnese collegiate and was probably used to seat the deacons and officials during solemn celebrations.

Room 6, named after the Benedictines, is dedicated to antependia and sacred vestments of the monastery and precious liturgical embroideries that depict Saint Benedict, Saint Peter and the Immaculate Conception.

Room 7 Civitas Mariae, a devotion linked to the story, everyday life and faithful and vigorous covenant that are the basis of a public recognition of Mesagne as a Marian town. The town observes the 20^th February every year as a day of great celebration in honour of its Protectress, the Madonna del Carmine, in recognition of the protection it received during the historic earthquake that took place on the 20^th February 1743.

Room 8 is dedicated to the Monastero di Santa Maria della Luce di Mesagne which no longer exists today. It was founded in 1581 by the spouses Alfonso Caputo and Aquila Giovannone and then expanded thanks to the donations of other benefactors. It was situated in the present Piazza Commestibili. In August 1582, the construction of the monastery was completed and the first group of twenty-three believers entered under the guidance of the abbess Angelica Azzolini. Over the years, the monastery was extended and modified. With the advent of the laws of 1886 regarding the suppression of religious groups the monastery was confiscated into the “Fondo per il Culto” and the nuns were permanently incorporated into the Benedictine order in Ostuni.

Room 9 is dedicated to the Mesagnese priest Don Saverio Martucci (1923 – 2009).

Room 10 holds the Archivio Capitolare (Chapter Archive) whose documents tell the story of the town of Mesagne from the Spanish domination to the fall of the Regno di Napoli (Kingdom of Naples). The conserved documents demonstrate how the Capitolo di Mesagne often defended the people of Mesagne from the feudal lords. Of particular interest are the two real estate registers from 1588 and 1627 because they provide important information about the family compositions, urban structures, cultural aspects and economy of the town.