Bari

Italy

Bari (Bari dialect: Bare) is the capital of the Apulia region of Italy, on the Adriatic Sea. With a population of 326,000 it's the second largest city in Southern Italy after Naples. It's also the core of a metropolitan area exceeding one million inhabitants and a bustling commercial center and port.

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Bari is the largest and most important city of Apulia and stands on the Adriatic coast. It's mainly famous for being one of the exit doors of Italy, where travellers leave on ferries for neighboring countries. The city authorities, however, have been trying to raise its tourism profile and awareness of Bari's old town, which has retained its ancient Medieval plan and contains many historic buildings and sites. The old town was the heart of pre-Roman and Roman Bari and it is now possible to find several hip bars and restaurants open "from dusk till dawn" in this once dark and unsafe zone.

There are a lot of places to see in Bari, especially in the ancient part of the city, called Bari Vecchia by locals. It's a beautiful mediaeval quarter in which there are many important churches.

  • Basilica of Saint Nicholas. This romanic church with a gold ceiling and a crypt contains many medieval attractions, including the magnificent cathedra of Bishop Elias.
  • On the same square, also the Palazzo del Catapano and the Church of Saint Gregory are worth a visit).
  • Bari Cathedral, Piazza dell'Odegitria, 1, +39 080 5210605. A romanic church even older than St. Nicolas', though later refurbished in baroque style, and equally interesting. Free.
  • It is highly suggested to take a walk along the waterfront, on the top of the old city walls, which passes by the Fortino of Saint Antony (an old fort that has been turned into a modern art gallery) and the former Monastery of Saint Scolastica (which belong to the local university). The vast majority of the churches in Bari Vecchia are closed to tourists. They are opened up on selected festivities, including Good Friday and the Solemnity of All Saints).

There is a small town - 20 minutes outside of Bari named Adelfia. The patron saint of one of its quarters, Montrone is Saint Trifone. Nov 9 is the start of a three day celebration. On Nov 9 is the early evening a giant beautiful balloon is release which signifies the start of the festival. On the 10th, the statue of San Trifone is brought out of the church and paraded around the town. Bands from all over Italy come and perform on the outdoor stage. Fireworks are displayed throughout the evening into the early morning. The different men's club compete on which club can have the biggest, loudest and spectacular display. Vendors surround the town with goods, food and gifts. Often there are over 200 parked buses from all over southern Italy. It really is a popular celebration.

Basilica of Saint Nicholas. This romanic church with a gold ceiling and a crypt contains many medieval attractions, including the magnificent cathedra of Bishop Elias.

On the same square, also the Palazzo del Catapano and the Church of Saint Gregory are worth a visit).

Bari Cathedral, Piazza dell'Odegitria, 1, +39 080 5210605. A romanic church even older than St. Nicolas', though later refurbished in baroque style, and equally interesting. Free.

It is highly suggested to take a walk along the waterfront, on the top of the old city walls, which passes by the Fortino of Saint Antony (an old fort that has been turned into a modern art gallery) and the former Monastery of Saint Scolastica (which belong to the local university). The vast majority of the churches in Bari Vecchia are closed to tourists. They are opened up on selected festivities, including Good Friday and the Solemnity of All Saints).

The Saint of the city is Saint Nicholas. He is celebrated by the Catholic Church on December 6. In Bari, several masses take place early in the morning (as early as 04:00) of December 6. A huge crowd and lots of fast food stands fill the old town through the night. The city's main celebration of Saint Nicholas, however, takes place in May 6–8 with historical reconstructions, popular music and a two-day fireworks contest. For this event many pilgrims come from all over the world.

  • Teatro Petruzzelli, Corso Cavour, 12, +39 080 9752 810. The largest theatre of the city and the fourth Italian theatre by size. Its season feature high quality productions of prose, opera, ballet and classical music.

Teatro Petruzzelli, Corso Cavour, 12, +39 080 9752 810. The largest theatre of the city and the fourth Italian theatre by size. Its season feature high quality productions of prose, opera, ballet and classical music.

Pottery, bags, shoes, interesting (and underpriced) red wines.

Via Sparano da Bari. Here you'll find Louis Vuitton, Benetton, Promod, and the like.

Via Argiro.

Cartoleria Favia, Piazza Umberto I n2, +39 0805235941. Fashion stationery (Mont Blanc, Parker, Aurora), bags, train/aero/car models.

Most restaurants are located in the eastern part of central Bari, around the intersection of Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and Corso Cavour.

  • Vini e Cucina, Via Roberto il Guiscardo, Bari. An old and very informal restaurant in the old town. Traditional, non-posh cuisine. Simple four-course menu for about €15.
  • Due Archi. Cheap and simple. Conceptionally very similar to Vini e Cucina.
  • Le Travi. Same as Due Archi.

Vini e Cucina, Via Roberto il Guiscardo, Bari. An old and very informal restaurant in the old town. Traditional, non-posh cuisine. Simple four-course menu for about €15.

Due Archi. Cheap and simple. Conceptionally very similar to Vini e Cucina.

Le Travi. Same as Due Archi.

Bari Vecchia is a beautiful quarter but because of the narrow, crowded streets and the presence of tourists, it is the preferred place for local pickpocketers.

  • Albania Albania, Via Pasquale Villari, 50, +39 080 528-9728. M-F 09:00-14:00.
  • Belgium Belgium, Via Napoli, 353, +39 080 534-8577. M-F 09:00-13:00.
  • Brazil Brazil, Via Dalmazia, 159/B, +39 080 553-0750. By appointment.
  • Bulgaria Bulgaria, +39 080 524-2939.
  • Costa Rica Costa Rica, Via Andrea da Bari, 141, +39 080 880-7588. By appointment.
  • Greece Greece, Via Giovanni Amendola, 172/C, +39 080 546-8049.
  • Mexico Mexico, Largo Nitti Valentini, 3, +39 080 552-2485. By appointment.
  • Spain Spain, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 179, +39 366 330-1581. M-F 10:00-12:30 & 16:00-18:00.
  • Sweden Sweden, Via Dante Alighieri, 138, +39 334 266-9473. M 09:00-10:00.
  • Switzerland Switzerland, Piazza Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi, 41/A, +39 080 524-9697. By appointment.

Albania Albania, Via Pasquale Villari, 50, +39 080 528-9728. M-F 09:00-14:00.

Belgium Belgium, Via Napoli, 353, +39 080 534-8577. M-F 09:00-13:00.

Brazil Brazil, Via Dalmazia, 159/B, +39 080 553-0750. By appointment.

Bulgaria Bulgaria, +39 080 524-2939.

Costa Rica Costa Rica, Via Andrea da Bari, 141, +39 080 880-7588. By appointment.

Greece Greece, Via Giovanni Amendola, 172/C, +39 080 546-8049.

Mexico Mexico, Largo Nitti Valentini, 3, +39 080 552-2485. By appointment.

Spain Spain, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 179, +39 366 330-1581. M-F 10:00-12:30 & 16:00-18:00.

Sweden Sweden, Via Dante Alighieri, 138, +39 334 266-9473. M 09:00-10:00.

Switzerland Switzerland, Piazza Luigi di Savoia Duca degli Abruzzi, 41/A, +39 080 524-9697. By appointment.

Nice towns to discover around Bari are Matera, Gravina, Martina Franca and Alberobello. Trani (with a truly impressive Cathedral), Molfetta, Giovinazzo to the North and Mola di Bari, Polignano a Mare and Monopoli to the South are closer to Bari and also worth a visit. There are many direct trains a day. Ticket to Matera or Alberobello is about €4 in one direction.