- Religious buildings
- Bari landmarks
- Museums and exhibition halls
- Delicious points on the map
- Note to shopaholics
- Scenic surroundings
Among all the Italian cities popular and beloved by tourists, Bari is of particular importance for those who profess Christianity. The relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker in the local cathedral attract many believing pilgrims to the administrative center of Apulia. In the extensive list of attractions of the city and its surroundings, you will also find temples and art galleries, medieval castles and unique architectural structures, the likes of which you will not find anywhere else in the world.
Local gourmets will willingly answer the question of where to go in Bari. City restaurants and cafes offer the best Italian cuisine and drinks typical of the south of the Apennine Peninsula.
Religious buildings
Basilica of Saint Nicholas
Let's not be original and tell first about the basilica, where the relics of the saint are kept. Patronizing not only the city, but also all children, prisoners and travelers, Nicholas the Wonderworker every year in the form of Santa pleases the kids on Christmas Eve. The story of his life and death is known to everyone in Bari, and the relics of the Wonderworker are called the main city shrine. The Basilica of St. Nicholas appeared at the end of the 11th century, when the remains were transported to Italy from Turkey and buried under the altar throne in the crypt of the temple. The church is also of interest to those interested in medieval art. The entrance gate of the temple is richly decorated with carvings, and the throne and ciborium are decorated with bas-reliefs of angels.
Another well-known religious building, where you can go to a service or excursion in Bari, is the cathedral, dating back to the 12th century. The temple was built on the site of a Byzantine basilica, from which remains the ancient stonework on the floor of the nave. The cathedral looks quite austere and is decorated with only a few bas-reliefs on the outside. Its parishioners venerate the relics of Saint Sabinus and worship the icon of Our Lady of Hodegetria, which is several centuries old.
The Church of St. Mark has an equally rich history. The temple was erected by the Venetians, who expelled the hordes of the Saracens from the city. This happened at the very beginning of the 11th century, but during its existence, the church was repeatedly completed and altered. The architectural monument is decorated with the symbol of Venice in the form of a winged lion. It is dated back to the 12th century. The altar of the temple was installed much later - in the 19th century, but this in no way diminishes its value and significance.
Bari landmarks
Swabian castle
One of the oldest cities in southern Italy, Bari was founded at least three and a half thousand years ago. During the existence of the city, many tribes and peoples were "noted" in it, leaving behind a rich historical heritage.
The list of city attractions invariably includes:
- Swabian castle, built by the Norman tribes in the first half of the 12th century. The fortress was intended to protect the land inherited by the Normans as a result of the victory in the bloody war with Byzantium. Soon the fort was partially destroyed by the new masters of Bari - the Sicilian conquerors. The fortress has experienced many tragic and heroic events, and today it has become a site for art exhibitions. Within the walls of Bari's Swabian Castle, you can watch a film about the history of the city.
- The constructivist city embankment in Bari was designed by Concezio Petrucci, who worked in the first half of the 20th century. The architect created the most beautiful seaside promenade, which took one of the first places in the list of the longest in the Old World. Bari's seafront promenade features palaces and art galleries, while the comfortable benches can relax and plan your next routes.
- Petruzzelli's patrons and merchants spared no expense for the city's needs. It was they who donated money for the construction of the theater, which appeared in Bari at the end of the 19th century. The scale of construction was so significant that the theater building now occupies the fourth place in Italy in terms of the size of the stage and auditorium. The list of stars, whose performances were fortunate enough for guests and residents of Bari, were Pavarotti, Sinatra, Minelli and Nuriev.
- Tourists have a lot to go and see in Bari-Vecchia. This is the name of the historic quarter, the layout of which resembles the labyrinths of Arab cities. Local historians are ready to show guests of Bari-Vecchia several dozen old churches and an ancient fortress named after St. Anthony.
Museums and exhibition halls
The small museum at the Cathedral of Bari is famous for its ancient manuscript. Visitors to the exhibition are impressed not only by the age of the scroll, but also by its size. Easter hymns were inscribed on the manuscript during the reign of Byzantium, and it took about five meters of material to create the scroll. In addition to the texts, the relic contains many illustrations of biblical subjects.
The Art Gallery in Bari is ideally suited to the needs of art aficionados traveling in Puglia. The Pinakothek contains hundreds of priceless masterpieces written by masters in the XII-XVIII centuries. A part of the collection is made up of altar images and icons; in other rooms, fragments of the work of medieval sculptors are exhibited, preserved after the explosions in the Apulian churches - Bari and its environs were badly damaged during World War II.
Delicious points on the map
Gourmets are sure that there is no better place in the world than Italy, especially if you are in Puglia. You can enjoy dozens of great dishes in Bari restaurants, where you should go for any reason and even without it.
Choose the nearest convenient place for you and feel free to ask for a menu - in Puglia, no one leaves the restaurant, regretting the time spent:
- In In vino veritas you will learn the truth and understand that it is hidden not only in wine, but also in the most tender lamb, cooked over a fire and seasoned with rosemary. Traditional Italian snacks and drinks in the restaurant are perfect for a romantic dinner, and for friendly gatherings, and for a large family meal.
- From the open summer terrace of La Locanda di Federico II, it is ideal to observe the life of the old town. The culinary recipes and secrets of the local chef will make the guest feel like a real Apulian who has lived long and happy years on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The service is ideal for those who love comfort and atmosphere "like a mom's at home."
- Seafood is the specialty of the Santa Lucia chef, who is open on the waterfront every day, except Mondays. The restaurant is famous for a variety of fish, octopus, mussels and the freshest oysters served daily by local fishermen.
In search of “just pizza,” head to the famous Enzo e Ciro. The pizzeria is famous for its relaxed atmosphere, noise, inexpensive drinks and the finest dough of the Apulian version of the traditional "Margarita".
Note to shopaholics
Tourists who go shopping in Bari most often end up on Corso Camillo Benso Cavour, where dozens of shops with recognizable names on the signs and many boutiques offering rare and exclusive designer items from all over the Italian south are open.
Another popular shopping street in the capital of Puglia is called Sparano. It is pedestrianized and you can safely walk along it without risking to be frightened by motorcyclists rushing by: the south of Italy is a place where you should always look around, even when switching to the green light. Via Sparano is full of souvenir shops and brand boutiques selling famous designer items.
Among the shopping centers Mongolfiera and La Rinascente are especially popular among shopaholics. They offer a wide range of footwear and clothing, goods for children and interior items, branded jewelry and accessories made of genuine leather.
If you are looking for inexpensive designer clothes and shoes, you should go to an outlet that has opened in the suburbs of Bari. The area is called Malfetta and the store is called Fashion District. Especially attractive offers in the outlet appear during the sales season, when a new designer collection replaces the previous one.
Products, delicacies and real olive oil from local producers are best bought in one of Bari's markets. In addition to saving money, you will get the opportunity to observe traders and buyers and plunge into what is called the national flavor of southern Italy.
Scenic surroundings
Alberobello
Alberobello is definitely on the list of attractions where you should go or go in Bari and the surrounding area. The houses of the townspeople made Alberobello famous all over the world, because such an architectural solution for the construction of dwellings is not found anywhere else on the planet. Property taxes, which became for the Alberobellites in the 17th century. unbearable burden, forced the architects of that time to create alternative projects, as a result of which the trulli appeared. The dwellings were cleaned a couple of minutes before the arrival of the tax collectors and were restored just as quickly. Today, the trulli is an open-air museum. The houses, which look like fabulous mushrooms, house shops, souvenir shops and cafes.
Another excursion itinerary, recommended by the guides of Bari, includes a visit to a system of underground grottoes called the Grotte di Castellana. The caves were discovered in the 18th century. and since then they have invariably attracted not only cavers, but also tourists. The depth of the underground gallery, accessible for inspection, is more than seven dozen meters, and the length of the chain of caves, where entrance is allowed, is three kilometers. The pearl of a unique natural formation is known as the White Cave. The grotto is covered from the inside with crystalline outgrowths of a bizarre shape, ideally white.
