Top 8 Places To Visit In Bari city, Italy

Bari is a lovely city in Italy. After Naples, it is the second most significant economic center on the mainland of Southern Italy. It has a harbor, a university city, and Saint Nicholas city. Compared to some other European cities, Bari equally has a good Climate that is favorable for outdoor activities, especially during summer. Get our Free Travel Checklist for your next trip.

The Mediterranean city is divided into four urban parts. To the north lies the closely structured old town on a peninsula between two prominent harbors. There you have the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, the Cathedral of San Sabino, and the Hohenstaufen Castle, which was erected for Frederick II and widely known today as a popular nightlife destination.

To the south lies the Murat sector (erected by Joachim Murat), the city’s modern center, which is set out on a rectangular grid-plan and includes a seaside promenade and a major shopping area.

Culturally, there is Fiera del Levante, an international trade fair held in Bari every year in mid-September. The trade fair offers several exhibitions, including trade displays, meetings, and events of different types.

The trade fair is hosted on the Fiera site, west side of the city center of Bari and focuses on industry and agriculture. There is also a “Fair of Nations” which exhibits handcrafted and locally produced products from all over the world.

Yet another important thing about Bari is the cuisines, characterized by three basic agricultural products from the surrounding area of Apulia: wheat, olive oil, and wine.

The broad range of fruits and vegetables, grown locally also contributes to the uniqueness of the local cuisine.

Local flour is used in the making of handmade bread and pasta, most notably the popular orecchiette ear-shaped pasta, recchietelle or strascinate, chiancarelle (orecchiette of various sizes), and cavatelli.

With around 40 flights every day, the city of Bari is well accessible through major airports in Europe.

With that clarified, let’s assist you in planning your trip to Bari so that you do not miss out on the top destinations to see in the city.

1. Visit the Basilica of Saint Nicholas

The Basilica of Saint Nicholas is one of the top locations to visit in Bari, Italy. The cathedral was built between 1087 and 1197 and it has enormous religious importance in Christianity throughout Europe.

The Basilica of Saint Nicholas is regarded as one of the most important pilgrimage destinations among Europeans. Because of its square design, it seems more like a castle than a church and was in fact utilized as a castle back in the day.

The building contains parts of Saint Nicholas’ relics from his shrine in Myra, now known as Turkey. The cathedral’s most appealing feature is the facade’s two low-rise towers.

The church contains the bishop’s throne, many Romanesque sculptures, the ciborium with mosaic design, a collection of 16th-century candlesticks and mythological characters, and so on.

2. enjoy your tour of Bari Cathedral

Unlike Saint Nicholas Cathedral, which is one of the most well-known pilgrimage sites in Bari, the Bari Cathedral is not as well-known.

It was built in honor of Saint Sabinus, a bishop of Canosa, and contains Saint Sabinus’ relics, which were collected here in the 9th century. The cathedral was built on top of the Imperial Byzantine ruins, which were destroyed in 1156 by William I of Sicily.

Surprisingly, traces of the ancient pavement can be found here. It is an exceptional example of Apulian Romanesque architecture and hence one of the top attractions to see in Bari.

3. Have a great time, touring Bari Vecchia

Bari Vecchia, located in the center of the city, is a historic town that has earned a spot on the Bari tourism map.

The vivacity of the town will undoubtedly amaze you with its beauty and charm. Many of the city’s major landmarks are easily accessible from the town.

It is 300 meters from the Swabian Castle, 500 meters from the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, and 400 meters from the Cathedral of Saint Sabinus.

The town’s central location will enable you to easily explore the city center and other local attractions.

There are several restaurants in the town that provide significant portions of breakfast on an open-air terrace.

4. Visit the 1903 Teatro Petruzzelli

Teatro Petruzzelli is Bari’s largest theater and the fourth largest in Italy. The theatre was erected in 1903 to accommodate a variety of live performances and concerts in the city.

Its design and style are enhanced by Raffaele Armenise’s artwork. Among the many events staged by the theatre, are two noteworthy premieres: Niccol Piccinni’s Iphigénie en Tauride and the Neapolitan version of Bellini’s I Puritani, which made the city famous all over the world. They were never performed again after the event at Teatro Petruzzelli.

Ballets, large-scale concerts, and operas are some of the various activities that take place at the theatres.

Numerous world-famous performers, including Frank Sinatra, Giorgio Gaber, Riccardo Muti, and Liza Minnelli, performed on the stage of the theatre.

Unfortunately, the theatre was destroyed by fire on October 27, 1991, and could only be reopen to the public in October of 2009, after an eighteen-year gap.

5. Visit the Swabian Castle, built in 1132

The Castello Svevo, or Swabian Castle, is located in the Apulian city of Bari. The castle was built in 1132 by King Norman Roger II and demolished in 1156 by King William I. In 1233, Roman Emperor, Frederick II renovated it.

During the reign of the Angevins, the fortress underwent various alterations. It was eventually restored to the King of Naples and repurposed into barracks and a jail.

The northern section of the castle is surrounded by the sea, while the southern part is surrounded by a moat.

The castle now serves as a museum, displaying various types of art. If you are planning a trip to Bari, be sure to include this attraction on your schedule.

6. Tour the Pinacoteca Metropolitana painting gallery of Bari

Pinacoteca Metropolitana di Bari is well known as the art and painting gallery of Bari city which has the most exquisite collection of varied categories of art.

The gallery was built in 1928 at the Palace of Government and later moved to the seaside, situated Province Palace in 1936.

Some of the artworks on display included in the gallery are Antique clothing, Apulian Medieval Majolica ceramics, a section of paintings by Corrado Giaquinto, a 19th century Neapolitan and Southern Italy paintings collection, and more.

7. Visit the Alta Murgia National Park

Alta Murgia National Park, which was established in 2004, is located in Apulia and it covers over 68000 hectares. It is one of the most popular spots to visit near Bari.

The vast national park encompasses an area of 677.39 square kilometers. It’s an excellent choice for people who want to explore the gorgeous scenery, historic abandoned towns, and stone buildings.

It’s also a wonderful place to relax in the countryside and enjoy sports like cycling and hiking. Many travel agencies in Bari offer day tours to this great national park.

8. Enjoy your tour of Bari Beaches

The most remarkable aspect of visiting Italy is the spectacular coastline, which allows you to see some of the most beautiful beaches. There are many beaches in and around Bari that can offer you a fun-filled vacation.

Pane e Pomodoro is one of them, it is a famous beach in Bari that gets a lot of visitors, especially during the summer. It is also highly popular among the locals. Bari Beaches are without a doubt the greatest spots to visit in the city.

Cala Paura near Polignano is another well-known beach among Bari citizens.

The beach provides breathtaking scenery and gorgeous sunsets. It is without a doubt one of the best spots to visit in Bari.

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