A Day in Bari Italy
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9/17/20264 min read
If you dream of travel, Italy is likely on your list. And why wouldn’t it? Amazing food. Great wine and coffee. Historical architecture. Hilltop villages. Valley hot springs…
Tourists usually hit the biggest cities like Rome, Venice, Florence, the Amalfi coast, and Milan which can be overrun and overwhelmed, but these places are considered Northern Italy. Southern Italy has a completely different flavor and is well worth visiting. Southern Italy has more grit as evidenced in the land, the people, and the architecture.
Bari is one of those cities in the south that should be added to one’s travel list. Whether arriving by air, train, or cruise ship, Bari is an easy destination. It’s a walkable city with good infrastructure including buses and taxis. Nearly 1800 cruise ships land in Bari every year and some of the best activities can be accomplished in just a single day.
Bari Vecchia (The old town): Commanded across the ages by the Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese, and Bourbons the historical footprints left their mark on the small winding streets of this old town.
Il Succorpo Della Cattedrale di Bari: The Church of St Maria sit atop the sub-structure of an ancient Byzantine Cathedral, a street, and buildings. Visitors can enter the crypt from the modern church to see the archeological remains of funerary rooms, original mosaic floors, a roman-era road, and 2 small byzantine churches.
Piazza Mercantile is another old Roman merchant square. Though it’s just a small ruin with modern life buzzing all around it, the energy of the past can be felt if you listen.
The Basilica of San Nicola, which was constructed between 1087 and 1197, holds the remains of San Nicola. He was known for his generosity and miracles which inspired the modern-day Santa Klaus. This basilica bridges Eastern and Western Christianity by hosting both Catholic and Orthodox services. With Apulian Romanesque architecture, it is a simpler destination for pilgrims with major celebrations held annually on December 6 (Saint Nicolas Day) and May 9 (translation of the relics).
Strada delle Orecchiette (officially called Strada Arco Basso): For generations Italian Nonna’s have taught their family to make Orecchiette pasta with only flour and water. The “little ear” shaped pasta is simple and delicious. Watch the genuine tradition of pasta making and drying in the open streets of Bari like it’s been done for hundreds of years. Then take some home from the authentic Italian vendors vs industrial made versions.
Food: Everyone knows about Italian pizza and pasta. But in Bari you can find rustic Apulian meat sandwiches at shops like Beccheria del Borgo Antica and focaccia in historical bakeries like Panificio Fiore Bari.
Castello Svevo of Bari: It was initially constructed in 1131 by Ruggero il Normanno, overtop of pre-existing Byzantine housing from the VII-X century; but it was besieged several times and rebuilt. Frederick II of Swabia rebuilt (1233-1240) and used it for defensive purposes while Duchess Isabella d’Aragona used it for their court and residences (16th century). The Bourbons used it for a prison and barracks site in the 18th-19th century and in the 20th century it was used for museums and Superintendency. Today, the first floor is a castle museum by day and it has a lively nightlife around it in the evening.
Bari has a lot to offer. Though we only spent one day scouring the city, we’d gladly return for a month. If you want to learn more, check out these great resources: