Why Bari is worth a trip

Bari, the beautiful and colourful city in the South of Italy, has much more to offer than just culinary diversity and impressive beaches: The city is extremely authentic and amazes its visitors with Italian temperament and breathtaking scenery.

Here you can still feel the real Italian flair and explore caves and beaches undisturbed. The original Italy has not had to give way to the tourist strongholds here, and the Baresen’s lifestyle, as the inhabitants are called, shows in all its many aspects.

On the one hand, Puglia’s capital is like a self-contained village, while on the other hand it is modern, culturally diverse and culinarily interesting.
Bari in Italy is surrounded by wonderful, small coastal towns that are within easy reach. Places like Polignano a Mare, Trani and Monopoli offer their visitors splendid views from rocky shores and genuine glimpses of the Mediterranean lifestyle. Sun lovers will find a variety of beaches, sand or rocks and deep blue water around Bari in the hot southern Italian summer.

The history of Bari, Italy

Bari belongs to the oldest cities in the world. The first settlement was built around 4,000 years ago and since then the city has had a rich history. The Greeks brought the first settlement to life and fishing as well as trade flourished in “Barion”. As the centuries passed, the city was conquered and abandoned. The Romans took the city from the Greeks, only to lose it a few centuries later to the Teutons. Saracens (Arabs) took over the city twice and passed it on to the Byzantines.

Under Frederick II the city flourished and remained a thriving metropolis until the 19th century. After Bari was also partially destroyed by German bombs in World War II, construction began which promoted the importance of the city in southern Italy.

Old meets new – The two faces of Bari

Bari has two sides that couldn’t be more contrasting: the new town with its impressive town houses in straight streets and the medieval old town of Bari Vecchia, which is enthroned at the top of the town, has winding lanes and is completely bordered by the sea on one side. Like a peninsula, Bari’s old town rises into the Adriatic Sea and makes it easy for visitors to get lost in the narrow streets. Many monumental buildings have been restored in recent years.

Between these two parts, there is the wide Corso Emanuele II, flanked by shops and one of the main traffic routes of Bari. Then there is the Lungomare Marcantonio Colonna promenade with its characteristic three-armed lanterns, called Lungomare by the locals. Here the Baresen go for a walk, eat a snack and couples sit in the evening on one of the many benches and watch the sunset.

Bari in Italy: the facts

The province of Bari is located in the northern part of Puglia and consists of many municipalities and towns with a rich cultural heritage. The city of Bari is the capital and accounts for a quarter of the total population of the province of Bari.

Population Bari province: 1.3 million
Population Bari City: 323,370 (Dec. 2017)
Capital of the province: Bari
Capital of the region: Apulia or Puglia
Folk name: Baresi
Membership of the EU: Yes
Currency: Euro
Telephone area code: 080
EU Roaming: Yes
Airport: Aeroporto Bari Karol Wojtyla (BRI) or Palese Airport
Local holiday: 8 May (festival of the patron saint of San Nicola 7 – 9 May)
License plates: BA

The weather in Bari

The climate in the South of Italy is warm and mild. During the summer months there is hardly any rainfall, while the winter months are rather humid. Temperatures in Bari can rise up to 30° in summer, but the high humidity makes it feel warmer.

The water temperature in Bari is also very pleasant in summer. In the hot summer months the water temperature does not fall below 20°C and reaches its highest value in August (24°C). On the other hand, the water temperature in Bari drops significantly in winter and averages 13° Celsius. With these values, Bari and its surroundings are ideal for a beach holiday and exploring nature.

Bari-Italy_puglia-at-night-port — Bari port at night

The most important sights in Bari

A brief overview of the most famous sights in Bari:

Basilica San Nicola

The pilgrimage church in the heart of the old town is impressively large and the pilgrimage destination of many Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Here is the reliquary tomb of Saint Nicholas. In addition, the basilica is a true gem and is considered the founding building of the Barese Romanesque. In the church museum you can see more works of art and an impressive collection of old candles from the 12th century. In case you are very much into candles.

The historic old town of Bari: Bari Vecchio

In the upper part of the city begins the interwoven old town, which is bordered in the north by the sea. Here, small shops alternate with hidden cafes. The local life of the Barese can be felt here like nowhere else.

Castello Normanno-Svevo

Impressive and powerful, the castle thrones in the West of Bari old town. It was built in 1132 by King Ruggero II and was used for a long time as the main checkpoint for arrivals to the town. It is also home to the famous Archaeological Museum, which displays historical, architectural and artistic artefacts.

Cattedrale di San Sabino

As one of the optical landmarks of the city of Bari, the cathedral is a marvel of 12th century Romanesque architecture. The most important church in Bari is often the site of weddings and the white façade with its three wooden portals, the large rose window and the round-arched windows is world-famous.

Teatro Petruzzelli

Friends of the theatre will get their money’s worth at the Teatro Petzuzzelli. The largest private theatre in Europe is also one of the five largest theatres in Italy. From the inside and outside it is impressive and also worth a visit beyond the shows.

Museo e Pinacoteca Metropolitana di Bari

The Picture Gallery is home to many exhibitions of modern and old art. It was opened in 1928 and houses unique exhibits and a large collection by the painter Corrado Giaquinto.

Bari and his culinary delights

Puglia’s rich cuisine includes traditional recipes that are handed down from generation to generation. The dishes are vegetable-based and often contain one of the many local cheeses. The fruity and full-bodied wines of the Puglia region are usually served with it. Baresian olive oil also has a unique taste, dominated by a bitter note. There are still many small olive growers here who have joined together to form a cooperative and produce top quality regional olive oil.

Typical Baresian specialties are among others:

Orecchiette with Rape, Pasta with a broccoli-like vegetable
Riso, Patate e Cozze, a kind of casserole made of rice, potatoes and mussels.
Panzerotti, stuffed dumplings and
Parmigiana, Parmesan-baked eggplants

While strolling through the narrow streets of the old town, you can still watch the local women making the ear-shaped pasta orecchiette by hand. They take pride in the tradition and like to give a few pieces as souvenirs.

Natural attractions in Bari

Around Bari there are many impressive natural monuments and caves. The lively sea has created interesting formations from the rocky coast. Undoubtedly the most famous natural attraction are the caves of Castellana. They are the largest caves in Italy and are easily accessible for sightseeing. Around the caves there are many hiking trails that lead through the untouched nature.

Getting to Bari

There are several ways to get to Bari in Italy.

The airport Bari-Palese (BRI) is also serviced by cheap airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet.
Trains from other Italian cities and from all over Europe will conveniently take you to Bari Centrale, Bari´s main station. The train network in Italy is very well developed and quite affordable.
By car, whether rental car or your own, you can easily get to the province of Bari on one of the well-maintained highways.
There are also many ferries to and fro, for example, Albania, Greece and Croatia at the port of Bari.

Going out in Bari

Bari’s old town is also a meeting point at night. Here you will find many bars, restaurants and cafes, where there is a lot of activity even at late hours. Starting at the Piazza del Ferrarese, you can party, drink and dance in the maze of streets. There are also many bars and restaurants around the university in the new part of Bari. In the streets Corso Vittorio, Via Nicolo Putignani and Via Abate Giacinto, the density of bars is especially high.

Tip: While for us “Bars” are places where you can drink alcohol in a cozy atmosphere and which are open until late at night, bars in Italy are rather places for coffee and small snacks.

Shopping in Bari

Shopping tours with Italian flair can be done in the shopping paradises of the new town in Bari. It’s no coincidence that Italy is famous for its fashion, chic shoes and handbags. Here you will find elegant boutiques as well as H&M. In the pedestrian zone Via Sparano you can stroll, drink an espresso and shop to your heart’s content. You’ll find cheaper shops along Via Manzoni and Corso Cavour. Outside the city there are many shopping centres and outlets.

Tip: A special highlight for shoppers from June to mid-September are the summer sales. All shops offer reduced prices during this time and you can get real bargains.

Bari with children

While the ancient city of Bari and its surroundings attract travelers with its many historical landmarks, small tourists attach importance to a different kind of entertainment. Bari also has a lot to offer for a holiday with children.

Among other things, these activities are available for children in Bari:

Water park “Acquapark Bari”: with many pools and slides for children of all ages.
Planetarium “Planetario – Villa Framarino”: A small but attractive planetarium. Here children can discover our stars and planets through large telescopes and watch educational films about space.
“Piccolo Museum of Musical Culture”: an interesting exhibition on the history of cinematography, with original film screenings and props by famous actors.
Palaghiaccio Bari” ice skating rink: you can also ice skate here in summer. At the moment the skating rink is closed, but it will be reopened in October.
Amusement park “Gomma Park Largo 2 Giugno” with many rides
Football matches on the Campo Sportivo Bellavista or Stadio San Nicola: There are often matches between local clubs.
Bowling Triggiano: Bowling alley just outside Bari town
Paintball Extreme Bari: This outdoor paintball field for active visitors is located near San Giorgio.

We are very impressed by Bari. This big, small town has much more to offer than it seems at first glance. Follow us on our Bari magazine, where we present all the details and secrets of Bari.