Already documented in the 12th century with the dedication to Saint Stephen, who gave his name to the entire area built in the middle ages in the eastern part of the city, the church was dedicated to San Ruggiero after the unification of Italy.
The building testifies to the close link between Barletta and the city of Canne, also evident in the construction of the village where the church of San Giacomo was built, which welcomed the refugees from that city.
According to tradition, the remains of the sainted bishop of Canne were moved to the Barletta church in 1267 and the cult had to further intensify with the demolition of the medieval church dedicated to him.
During the sixteenth century, in fact, there are records of Rodrigo Luxano commissioning a sepulcher that could accommodate the remains of San Ruggiero. In the 18th century, after a renovation phase, the saint's body was moved under the main altar.
Very little remains of the modern-era structure, such as the coffered ceiling, some tombstones and the inscriptions that recall the transfer of the relics of the bishop of Canne.
From an architectural point of view, the façade is of some interest, decorated with rustic ashlar in the lower part, in which there is a portal decorated with vegetal motifs (13th century).