Bari is the capital city of the Apulia (Puglia) region of southeast
Italy, a busy commercial centre and thriving sea port on the
Adriatic. Whilst it is not one of Italy's top tourist
destinations, its atmospheric Old Town, local cuisine and surrounding
scenic landscapes make it a tempting proposition for a short
holiday. Apulia is considered to be one of Italy's most beautiful
regions, renowned for its unspoiled countryside, sandy beaches and
abundance of medieval architecture. A modern and historic city,
Bari provides a good starting point to explore the region.
Believed to have been founded by the Peucetii tribe, Bari came under Roman control in the 3rd century BC. Its strategic value lay in the fact that it was the meeting point of the coast road and the Via Traiana, although the city itself (then a small fishing port) was not of great importance. After the fall of Rome, and the inevitable Barbarian invasions, Bari became part of the Byzantine Empire, and served as one of the main slave depots on the Mediterranean. In 1071, the city was captured by the Norman adventurer Robert Guiscard after a three-year-long siege. In the 13th century, Bari was repeatedly attacked and destroyed by various rival powers. After a long period as a provincial backwater, Bari regained something of its earlier prestige when Joachim Murat, the brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte, ordered the building of a new section of the city, with streets arranged in a grid-like pattern. Under Murat's patronage, Bari soon became one of the most important sea ports in the region.
The main tourist area of Bari is the Old Town (Vecchia Bari), situated
on a coastal headland in the northeast of the city. The area has
a bad reputation and is best avoided after dark, although during the
day it is safe and charming with its narrow old streets and pleasant
sea views. Between the Old Town and the coast are two of
Bari's best known landmarks, the Basilica di San Nicola (Basilica of
Saint Nicholas) and Cattedrale di San Sabino (Cathedral of San
Sabino). The Basilica di San
Nicola is the most famous of Bari's sacred buildings. It
was built between 1087 and 1197 to house the relics of St Nicolas,
which had recently been removed from their original resting place in
Myra (now part of Turkey). With its severe square appearance and
imposing towers, the basilica looks more like a fortress than a
church. Its interior is noted for its mosaic pavements in the
crypt and presbytery, and an ornately sculptured bishop's throne.
The crypt which contains the tomb of St Nicolas is supported by 26
columns. The basilica is an important pilgrimage for Roman
Catholics and Orthodox Christians from Eastern Europe. The
Russian Church in the Carrassi district was built early in the 20th
century for Russian pilgrims who came to the city to visit the basilica.
Bari Cathedral was built in the late 12th century, replacing an earlier Byzantine-style building that was destroyed when the city was ransacked by William I of Sicily in 1156. Its design is similar to that of the Saint Nicholas basilica and has a virtually identical plain Romanesque façade. The crypt contains the relics of St Sabinus and the icon of the Madonna Odigitria. When the cathedral was restored in the 1950s, its Baroque interior adornments (added in the 18th century) were removed. Immediately to the west of the cathedral is another important landmark, the Castello Normanno-Svevo (Norman-Hohenstaufen Castle), an imposing Norman fortress that overlooks the sea. This is believed to have been built by the Norman king Roger II in around 1132. Having been ransacked by William I of Sicily in 1156, it was rebuilt by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. It became a possession of Duke Ferdinand of Aragon, and later passed to Bona Sforza, the Queen of Poland. Subsequently, it served as a prison and barracks, but now functions as a gallery for temporary exhibitions. Another interesting castle in the region is Castel del Monte, situated on a remote hilltop near the town of Andria, about 20 km to the northwest of Bari. Built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1240 (one of many he planted in the region), this has a rare octagonal footprint, with an eight-sided tower at each of its eight corners. Originally used as a hunting lodge for the emperor, it served as a prison in the middle ages and was subsequently abandoned.
To the immediate south of the Old Town is the busy New Town (Murat Quarter), which makes a complete contrast with its grid-like street arrangement, sea promenade and abundance of shops, bars and restaurants. This is the location of the Petruzzelli Theatre, which is among the grandest of Italy's opera houses, third only to La Scala in Milan and San Carlo in Naples. Damaged by an arson attack in 1991, it was reopened in 2009. To the east of this is the Porto Vecchio (Old Port), one of the most charming parts of the city.
The Pinacoteca Provinciale di Bari is one of the most important art galleries in the Apulia region, housed in the Palazzo della Provincia (Palace of Province), on the coastal boulevard Lungomare Nazario Sauro. Its collection comprises a wide range of Italian paintings and sculptures from the 11th to the 20th centuries, including several Venetian paintings of the Renaissance, regional paintings from the medieval era and Neapolitan school, notable work by Corrado Giaquinto and a selection of contemporary artwork. Bari's other main museum is its Archaeological Museum, which is located in the University of St. Scholastics and has notable collection of ceramics and bronze artefacts.
Bari Airport is situated 8 km to the northwest of the city centre. This is operated by several low cost and full service airlines (including Alitalia, British Airways, EasyJet, Lufthansa and Ryanair) offering connections to several destinations in Italy and Europe, such as Milan, Verona, Bologna, Rome, London, Zurich and Bucharest. There are bus services from the airport to the city centre. Bari Centrale is the city's main train station and connects to many other Italian cities. There are ferry services from Bari to the Greek ports of Patra and Igoumenitsa. A bus network operates within the city.
Believed to have been founded by the Peucetii tribe, Bari came under Roman control in the 3rd century BC. Its strategic value lay in the fact that it was the meeting point of the coast road and the Via Traiana, although the city itself (then a small fishing port) was not of great importance. After the fall of Rome, and the inevitable Barbarian invasions, Bari became part of the Byzantine Empire, and served as one of the main slave depots on the Mediterranean. In 1071, the city was captured by the Norman adventurer Robert Guiscard after a three-year-long siege. In the 13th century, Bari was repeatedly attacked and destroyed by various rival powers. After a long period as a provincial backwater, Bari regained something of its earlier prestige when Joachim Murat, the brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte, ordered the building of a new section of the city, with streets arranged in a grid-like pattern. Under Murat's patronage, Bari soon became one of the most important sea ports in the region.
Bari Cathedral was built in the late 12th century, replacing an earlier Byzantine-style building that was destroyed when the city was ransacked by William I of Sicily in 1156. Its design is similar to that of the Saint Nicholas basilica and has a virtually identical plain Romanesque façade. The crypt contains the relics of St Sabinus and the icon of the Madonna Odigitria. When the cathedral was restored in the 1950s, its Baroque interior adornments (added in the 18th century) were removed. Immediately to the west of the cathedral is another important landmark, the Castello Normanno-Svevo (Norman-Hohenstaufen Castle), an imposing Norman fortress that overlooks the sea. This is believed to have been built by the Norman king Roger II in around 1132. Having been ransacked by William I of Sicily in 1156, it was rebuilt by Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. It became a possession of Duke Ferdinand of Aragon, and later passed to Bona Sforza, the Queen of Poland. Subsequently, it served as a prison and barracks, but now functions as a gallery for temporary exhibitions. Another interesting castle in the region is Castel del Monte, situated on a remote hilltop near the town of Andria, about 20 km to the northwest of Bari. Built by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1240 (one of many he planted in the region), this has a rare octagonal footprint, with an eight-sided tower at each of its eight corners. Originally used as a hunting lodge for the emperor, it served as a prison in the middle ages and was subsequently abandoned.
To the immediate south of the Old Town is the busy New Town (Murat Quarter), which makes a complete contrast with its grid-like street arrangement, sea promenade and abundance of shops, bars and restaurants. This is the location of the Petruzzelli Theatre, which is among the grandest of Italy's opera houses, third only to La Scala in Milan and San Carlo in Naples. Damaged by an arson attack in 1991, it was reopened in 2009. To the east of this is the Porto Vecchio (Old Port), one of the most charming parts of the city.
The Pinacoteca Provinciale di Bari is one of the most important art galleries in the Apulia region, housed in the Palazzo della Provincia (Palace of Province), on the coastal boulevard Lungomare Nazario Sauro. Its collection comprises a wide range of Italian paintings and sculptures from the 11th to the 20th centuries, including several Venetian paintings of the Renaissance, regional paintings from the medieval era and Neapolitan school, notable work by Corrado Giaquinto and a selection of contemporary artwork. Bari's other main museum is its Archaeological Museum, which is located in the University of St. Scholastics and has notable collection of ceramics and bronze artefacts.
Bari Airport is situated 8 km to the northwest of the city centre. This is operated by several low cost and full service airlines (including Alitalia, British Airways, EasyJet, Lufthansa and Ryanair) offering connections to several destinations in Italy and Europe, such as Milan, Verona, Bologna, Rome, London, Zurich and Bucharest. There are bus services from the airport to the city centre. Bari Centrale is the city's main train station and connects to many other Italian cities. There are ferry services from Bari to the Greek ports of Patra and Igoumenitsa. A bus network operates within the city.
Also in Italy:
Top tourist attractions in Bari, Italy:
- Archaeological Museum
- Basilica of Saint Nicholas
- Castello Normanno-Svevo
- Cathedral of San Sabino
- Murat Quarter
- Old Town
- Petruzzelli Theatre
- Pinacoteca Provinciale di Bari
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