In the oldest part of the Old town of Bari, there are ruins of a 9th-century Byzantine Church called Santa Maria Del Buon Consiglio. Only the marble floor and a few columns remained.
There was a settlement of ancient Greeks in the 5th century BC. The church was built during the period when southern Italy was under the rule of the Byzantines. Then it was called the Church of Santa Maria of the People.
However, in 946 there was a bloody clash. The bariyans held a Council, and the rich men suggested that the brides should not be escorted to the altar by their fathers, but by the rich people of Bari. After that, there was a skirmish between rich and poor people right in the Church, which resulted in victims on both sides.
After that, the Church was called Santa Maria del Cattivo Consiglio - the Church of Santa Maria of the Bad Council. After several centuries, the incident in the Church was erased from the memory of the townspeople, and they decided to rename the Church to Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio - the Church of Santa Maria of the Good Council. Unfortunately, only ruins of it have preserved to nowadays.
