Italy is a top travel destination for a good reason. With the romantic cities of Rome, Florence and Venice, stunning scenery in Sicily and the Cinque Terre and no end of beautiful beaches to relax on, Italy has something for everyone no matter what type of traveler you are. Outside of the well-known Italian destinations there is even more for you to explore, and one of our favorite spots is Bari in southern Italy, capital of the Puglia region.

With a fascinating history, stunning architecture and some of the best food anywhere in Italy (yes, really) Bari is absolutely worth visiting – keep reading for our introduction to this fun city.

The long history of Bari

Bari in Antiquity

The city of Bari was founded in antiquity, with its harbour being an ideal location on the east coastline of Italy for trade in the Adriatic sea and the Mediterranean. It was originally independent, before being settled by people from ancient Greece, but during the expansion of the ancient Roman republic Bari and the surrounding area fell under control of the new power in the 3rd century BC.

In Roman times the city and its harbour continued to be one of the principal stops on the eastward trade routes, with money and goods flooding through Bari. This new wealth led to a rapid expansion and improvements to the city, making it an attractive target for enemies of the Romans.

After the western Roman empire collapsed in 476 AD Bari was continually fought over for centuries. At different points Bari was controlled by the Germanic Ostrogoths, the Byzantine (or eastern Roman) empire, the Lombards from the north and even the Muslim Caliphate, with a short lived Emirate of Bari founded in 847.

Bari through the Middle Ages

The wider region of Apulia (Puglia today) was briefly independent before the Normans took control in the 11th century. The Normans, who also took control of Sicily at the same time, brought another new culture to Bari and helped the city rebuild after decades of conflict.

The Sicily connection brought Bari and Puglia into the Kingdom of Naples, who controlled the whole of southern Italy until the 1800’s. The ups and downs of the Kingdom of Naples were reflected in Bari, at points it was extremely prosperous, with an expansion of the port and lots of new buildings, but at others the city struggled, dealing with repeated invasions from the Arabs, Venetians and Turkish fleets without support.

Bari, Italy

After the unification of Italy took place in 1861, Puglia and the other southern regions were much poorer than the northern regions. The south largely relied on agricultural income whereas the north was the home of Italy’s new industrialization expansion, with cities like Milan and Turin rapidly becoming economic powerhouses. Repeated attempts were made through the 19th and 20th centuries to redress the balance between north and south, such as the introduction of modern plumbing, which Bari installed in 1915.

In the 1930’s Mussolini sought to improve the area further, encouraging agricultural production to bring more jobs and income to the people. The modern waterfront in Bari was built and other infrastructure improvements were made, but the plans were interrupted by World War II.

Bari was taken by the Allies in 1943, serving as a major naval base for the Allies’ push north for the rest of the war. After the war ended, the new government tried once again to increase productivity in the south, but their efforts were initially unsuccessful. Faced with high levels of unemployment and low prospects, emigration numbers from the south were significant, but in recent years this has changed for the better.

Puglia and Bari have seen the benefits of the improving economic outlook, with their long, diverse history attracting more and more visitors.

What to see and do in Bari

No matter what your vacation style is, there are plenty of things to do in Bari.

Visit Bari’s churches

Bari has two must see churches, the Basilica di San Nicola (Saint Nicholas) and the cathedral, both of which are steeped in historic significance.

St Nicholas (the inspiration for Santa Claus) was originally buried in a place called Myra, in what is now Turkey, but in the 11th century this part of the world was fast coming under the control of the Islamic caliphate. Concerned for the safety of the saint’s relics, a plan was formed to transport the bones back to Italy and they arrived in Bari in 1087.

As the city’s patron saint, a suitably grand church was needed to house the bones of St Nicholas and so construction of the basilica began almost immediately. Little has been changed in the basilica over the years so the interior is an excellent example of the architectural style of the 11th and 12th centuries – don’t miss the incredible mosaics.

The Bari Cathedral of San Sabino is no less interesting, even if most people head straight for the Basilica di San Nicola. The current church dates back to the 12th century but this was built on top of a very early church from the 6th century. The interior is simple but impressive, and the crypt which holds the relics of Saint Sabinus is an ornate contrast to the main cathedral.

Explore Bari’s history

Given the long history of the city, it is no surprise that if you visit Bari you will see many layers of time here.

Bari Vecchia (Old Bari) is the city’s old town, found on the peninsula where the basilica, cathedral and the Castello Svevo are located. Even if you don’t have much time in Bari, make time to wander the narrow streets here. Yes, it’s a bit of a maze, but you’re never too far from one of the main sights so you can’t really get lost.

Eventually you will come to Piazza Mercantile, found at the edge of the old town, packed with bars and restaurants. A meeting point for locals, this piazza is a perfect people-watching spot – although if you’re visiting in the summer it will be very quiet during the day when the temperatures soar.

On the other side of Bari Vecchia is the Castello Svevo, a Norman-Swabian castle complete with fortifications that helped protect the city for generations. First built by the Norman king Roger II, king Frederick II of Swabia rebuilt much of the castle after it was damaged during an invasion in the 12th century. Going through many uses during its time, today the castle is a museum where you can explore the medieval structure.

If you love museums, the Archaeological museum in Bari is a must. Housed in the ancient monastery of Santa Scolastica (which itself is connected to the city walls) the museum traces Bari’s history all the way back to the prehistoric period.

Enjoy the water

With easy access to the Mediterranean and Adriatic sea, there is plenty to do on the coast.

Firstly, you have to walk along at least some of the Lungomare, a long promenade following the coast line alongside the sea. The wide path is lined with benches and cast iron street lamps, and while the main section weaves around the Fiera del Levante (a large convention centre), the port and past the old city, it goes on much further.

Don’t miss the historic old harbour and the colorful boats lined up, overlooked by the pink Teatro Margherita which was originally a theater (built on stilts in the habour) but is now a contemporary art gallery.

If relaxing on a beach is more your style, there are plenty of options for you in Bari. The popular Pane e Pomodoro beach is easily reached from the city centre and is primarily free (unlike many Italian beaches) but can get very busy. Lido San Francesco is just as popular, but as this is a beach you have to pay to rent a sunbed and umbrella, there is a different feel to it even when busy.

If you’re happy to travel further for your beach day, check out the beaches in and around Polignano a Mare or Monopoli – be aware that there are a mix of sandy and rocky beaches along the coast here, and some have very little facilities so come prepared.

Take a day trip

If you want to explore the surrounding area in more detail, there are plenty of day trips you can take from Bari. The unique city of Matera with its cave buildings in the neighboring region of Basilicata is around an hour away by car or bus.

You could travel a similar distance along the coast to visit the site of Egnazia, an ancient city with ruins dating back to the Iron Age in an idyllic location, or the UNESCO World Heritage site of Castel del Monte, an unusual octagonal-shaped medieval castle in remarkably good condition.

Eating and drinking in Bari Italy

As with any trip to Italy, enjoying the local cuisine is part of the appeal here in Bari. You’ll have a wide array of eateries to choose from during your trip, and while you’ll find excellent pizza and other typical Italian dishes on the menu, be sure to try at least a few Barese specialities.

The people of Bari have perfected the art of making the most of the ingredients they have, with vegetables and fish featured prominently in their recipes. Here are some of our favorite dishes to look out for:

• Foccacia Barese – fluffy foccacia bread topped with cherry tomatoes and lots of olive oil before being baked to perfection, this is THE street food in Bari. Try to get it freshly baked for the optimal experience.
• Panzerotti – these simple fried snacks are made with a type of pizza dough, filled with mozzarella and tomato before being folded into a crescent and fried. Simple but delicious.
• Fave e Cicorie – supposedly dating back to the time of the ancient Greeks, this dish consists of a fava bean puree along with cooked chicory and a generous amount of olive oil. Hearty and warming, this is a go-to dish for many.
• Orrechiette – this pasta shape originated in Bari, similar to a little ear, it soaks up sauces and holds up well to robust flavors. The most traditional sauce is cime di rapa (bitter broccoli rabe) but you will see a wide variety of different options available.
• Spaghetti Assassina – a much more recent invention, this spaghetti is unusual in that the pasta is cooked directly in a pan, with a tomato broth slowly added until the spaghetti is cooked through. This method browns the pasta, creating a crispy layer. If you’re not a spice fan beware, as often this dish is made with fiery chillies or chilli powder and can really pack a punch!

• Seafood – it will not come as a surprise that there is a lot of fish available in Bari restaurants. One thing you may not be prepared for is the Barese preference for eating a lot of fish raw. Try raw squid or cuttlefish, scoop out sea urchin from their spiky shell with some bread or the small octopus that fishermen have a special way of tenderizing to make it taste good raw.
• Tiella – a tiella is a terracotta cooking dish, used to create this layered meal of potatoes, rice and mussels combined with tomatoes and pecorino cheese. In the summer other vegetables are also added – get one to share as they are very filling.

Planning a visit to Bari

Bari is a great year-round destination, but depending on what you want to do while you’re here, there are better times to visit. Looking to explore Bari and the surrounding area? Spring and early fall are best, as you will have ideal weather for sightseeing. Want to relax on the beach most of the time? The hot summer months are what you want. Prefer to explore without anyone else around? Winter is ideal as the visitor numbers drop significantly as the weather cools.

While Bari’s airport offers various European connections, often visitors arrive in Rome or Milan and then travel to Bari. You can fly internally but the excellent Italian trains are the better option.

Bari makes an excellent base for seeing a lot of Puglia and beyond, but getting around here can be difficult. If you are focused on Bari you will not need a rental car, but if you want to do a lot of exploring this is really the only reliable method of transport as buses and trains between smaller locations can be unreliable or simply non-existent.

There is so much more to Italy and Bari is an excellent example of this. If you’d like to know more about exploring the fascinating country we can help you plan a custom itinerary or adapt one of our existing experiences – get in touch with us now to start your adventure today.